KLM and KLM CityHopper win several awards at the annual Aviation Awards Challenge in Copenhagen, which encourages airlines to be environmentally conscious.
KLM Wins Several Awards, Including the Special Recognition Award
Between Sep. 26 and Oct. 26, 2025, over 22 airlines participated in the Aviation Challenge. Flights during this time period tested operational adjustments and environmental improvements to move towards a more sustainable innovation in aviation.
Participating in the Aviation Challenge, KLM’s flight to Nairobi achieved the lowest carbon emissions ever recorded, at 35g CO₂/RTK, by flying entirely on SAF and adjusting operations to sustain a more environmentally conscious approach to aviation. This flight helped KLM win the Special Recognition Award. They also received a Special Recognition Award for their friendly act of knowledge sharing with Kenya Airways.
The airline was also presented with the Best Showcase Flight award for its video ‘Intern On a Mission’ for its inspirational and motivational message.
To end their success streak, the KLM CityHopper won the prestigious award of Pioneer of the Year for their strategy, where they temporarily increased their use of SAF to 100% over their Amsterdam – London City and Amsterdam – Hamburg routes.
In this strategy, KLM surveyed whether customers would pay for tickets with SAF fuel costs reflected in the pricing, which was highlighted as a success and allowed KLM to receive this award.
Aviation Challenge to Reduce Carbon Emissions
Using solutions to reduce carbon emissions from aviation, airlines undertaking the aviation challenge optimised routes, innovative maintenance measures, using SAF, and achieved weight savings.
Flights that were a part of the challenge achieved 13.5% lower carbon emissions than regular airlines, creating an environmentally conscious sector. Participating airlines werre 12% below the sector average for emissions.
Recognising their impact on keeping the aviation industry environmentally conscious, KLM continues its effort to lower carbon emissions and optimise its sustainability during operations.
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