Report on activity and sustainable development 2020

Bounce back : Interview with Augustin de Romanet Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Groupe ADP

What we have before us is a unique opportunity to work on the future of air transport by acting at a very early stage to incorporate the high expectations passengers and the general public have around issues of aircraft decarbonisation and biodiversity protection.

These innovations certainly address health concerns and expectations. But what about environmental issues?

Groupe ADP is an airport industry pioneer in terms of environmental issues, and has already initiated its own ecological transition. In the decade between 2009 and 2019, we reduced CO2 emissions per passenger at the Paris airports by 71%, and are now targeting carbon neutrality by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. The advent of the Airbus hydrogen-powered aircraft slated for 2035 will be a major driver in this transition, and we’re already preparing for it today.

Lastly, by taking a 49% equity stake in India’s GMR Airports - whose Delhi and Hyderabad airports have already achieved carbon neutrality according to ACI (Airports Council International) - we are laying the foundations for a new long-term industry partnership. The fact that we have built one of the world’s leading airport networks brings with it the responsibility to ensure that all our platforms fully embrace the principle and practice of eco-responsibility. Twenty-three of our network airports have signed our Airports For Trust charter, which outlines what the airport of the future will look like: a responsible airport that is mindful of its environmental footprint and creates long-term value for its host areas and communities.