As the First Airport in Asia-Pacific & Middle East RAC and ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Sign Agreement for KKIA to Participate in “Net Zero Roadmap” Program to Achieve Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050

Riyadh Airports Company (RAC), which manages and operates Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (KKIA), has signed an agreement with Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East for KKIA to strive for net zero carbon emissions by 2050, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable aviation. According to the agreement, King Khalid International Airport will be the first international airport in Asia-Pacific & Middle East to participate in the “Net Zero Roadmap” program.

Net Zero Roadmap is on-demand service which serves a complementary to Airport Carbon Accreditation, creating structured plans, including carbon footprint projections, governance frameworks, and recommendations across areas like assets, fuels, and operations.
A crucial component of the program involves onsite assessment, which will be dedicated to thoroughly evaluating and analyzing the specific site conditions, collecting data, meeting experts, and overall ensuring an understanding of the environment, and facilitating informed decision-making throughout subsequent phases.

The agreement was signed by Ayman bin Abdulaziz AbuAbah, CEO of Riyadh Airports Company, and Stefano Baronci, Director General of Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID).

Commenting on this agreement, Ayman bin Abdulaziz AbuAbah said: “This signing comes as a confirmation of our full commitment at Riyadh Airports towards enhancing the environmental sustainability efforts required by the operational performance of King Khalid International Airport, and aligning it with the best international practices in the fields of carbon footprint management.

“It makes us the first airport to take this step, and KKIA has achieved advanced levels in carbon accreditation and carbon footprint management. In 2022, we obtained ISO 14001 - Environmental Management Systems, which helped crystallize this agreement; and the selection of KKIA in this regard is a testament to our outstanding environmental and sustainability initiatives,” he continued. “The agreement is a significant step toward enhancing our airport's sustainability efforts and aligning with global best practices in environmental management. It presents a valuable opportunity for us to further solidify our commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promote sustainable aviation, which is integrated with the objectives of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development in its quest to achieve the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 carbon neutrality and net zero by 2060.”

Similarly, Stefano Baronci, said “I am delighted to announce the agreement with Riyadh Airports Company, which marks an important milestone in the journey toward sustainable aviation. This initiative aligns with our shared commitment to environmental sustainability, aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Through structured plans, KKIA will gain tailored solutions to reduce emissions across its operations.”

The Net Zero Roadmap program is an international program for carbon management at airports and provides strategies and plans, aiming to greatly reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide.