Vietnam’s national airline looks to lighter flights to cut fuel use, emissions

The national flag carrier said it has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to launch its “Light Flight to Hue” program on flight VN7545 from Hanoi to Hue.

According to the airline, a “light flight” does not mean carrying fewer passengers or less cargo than usual, but rather reducing weight wherever possible on the aircraft.

From a few kilograms of water, baggage and onboard supplies to cargo containers, every kilogram removed helps lower the aircraft’s total takeoff weight.

The heavier an aircraft is, the more fuel it needs to take off and maintain its journey.

Therefore, for an airline operating hundreds of flights a day, seemingly small weight reductions, when implemented on a large scale, can make a significant difference in fuel consumption and emissions.

On VN7545 on August 26, the airline simultaneously applied several measures instead of focusing on just one category.

Before the flight, the engines were cleaned to maintain operating efficiency.

The flight route was calculated based on weather conditions to minimize unnecessary fuel consumption.

The amount of clean water loaded onto the aircraft was also more closely matched to actual demand to avoid carrying excess weight.

Lighter cargo containers were also used to reduce the aircraft’s operating weight.

Passengers also played a part.

According to Vietnam Airlines, 92 percent of passengers on the flight checked in online or used biometric identification, reducing the need for paper.

Some passengers also optimized their baggage and brought personal cups instead of using single-use plastic ones.

The airline said all passengers on VN7545 participated in the program in different ways.

Dang Anh Tuan, deputy general director of Vietnam Airlines, said a lighter flight is the result of multiple changes made during preparation and operations, as well as choices made by passengers.

“When implemented across multiple flights, these small changes can produce significant results in reducing emissions and protecting the environment,” Tuan said.

This is the third year Vietnam Airlines has run its “Light Flight” program, following flights to Con Dao in 2024 and Hanoi in 2025.

In 2025, Vietnam Airlines used around 2,200 metric tons of neat sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), mainly on European routes, while also testing the fuel on domestic flights.

The national carrier is not alone in its efforts to make air travel greener.

Vietjet also used SAF on flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Melbourne and Seoul, while expanding its fleet with newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft.