How KLM is working towards a zero-emission future in aviation

In this episode, we speak with Jolanda Stevens, Program Manager for Zero Emission Aviation at KLM, who shares how the airline is preparing for a more sustainable future of aviation through innovative technologies and strategic investment in emerging solutions.

Stevens discusses:

1. KLM’s unique approach to innovation with a dedicated team focused on the “disruptive” aviation technology, working on future solutions like electric and hydrogen aircraft whilst maintaining their core flight operations.
2. How different zero-emission technologies will serve specific segments of KLM’s network, with battery-electric suitable for shorter routes, hydrogen for medium-range, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) remaining crucial for long-haul flights.
3. KLM’s systematic process for evaluating potential technology partners based on aircraft concepts, technical assumptions, company credibility, and even “gut feeling” to determine which innovations deserve investment.
4. The airline’s research into passenger perceptions of new technologies, addressing critical questions about safety, comfort, and willingness to pay for sustainable aviation solutions.
5. KLM’s role in driving system-wide transformation, recognising that zero-emission aviation requires changes in infrastructure, legislation, ground handling, and safety protocols across the entire industry.
   
   

As a pilot who found deeper purpose in sustainability work, Stevens offers unique insights into how a 105-year-old airline is actively shaping aviation’s next technological revolution rather than simply waiting for it to arrive.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Amelia DeLuca, Chief Sustainability Officer at Delta Air Lines, who shares the airline’s collaborative vision for sustainability. Check it out here. 

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

What KLM does to make air travel more sustainable - KLM 

KLM and ZeroAvia plan zero-emission demonstration flight using liquid hydrogen - Zeroavia 

KLM joins Heart Aerospace, will help design its electric turboprop - Aviacionline 

Why is KLM Calling for Stricter SAF Policies from the EU? - Sustainability Magazine