Air New Zealand has trialled the removal of single-use cups on six domestic flights to explore how the airline can deliver hot drinks at 30,000 feet, without the waste. The airline recently removed all single-use cups from its New Zealand lounges.
“Removing nearly one million single-use cups each year from Air New Zealand lounges was a great start, and we’ve had a really positive response from customers who understand why this was an important move,” said Kiri Hannifin, Chief Sustainability Officer, Air New Zealand. “But we’ve got a further nine million single-use hot beverage cups being used each year on our aircraft, plus millions more plastic water cups. Removing waste in an aviation environment comes with its challenges. Infrastructure to support waste reduction can vary from airport to airport, country to country and the need to operate flights on schedule is paramount.”
Air New Zealand is currently in the process of setting new waste targets to support its work towards a more circular economy. “Designing and procuring with a circular mindset right at the outset avoids waste in the first place and is the optimal starting point,” said Hannifin. “We are excited to see how we can make inroads onboard our aircraft.”
The trial took place on 26 and 27 March 2024 on flights across Air New Zealand’s domestic network. The knowledge gained from customer feedback, operational logistics, and impact will help to determine the viability of implementing the initiative in the long-term. During the trial, customers were still able to experience the Air New Zealand beverage service, with the airline encouraging customers to bring a reusable cup or providing one for them to use during onboard service.
