SkyWest Incorporated
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2021, 2022, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2021
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:26,786 metric tons CO2e (total fleet)
Scope 1 Emissions:26,786 metric tons CO2e (includes jet fuel and GSE)
Scope 2 Emissions:9,284 metric tons CO2e
Renewable Energy Share:45% (GSE)
Total Energy Consumption:22,406,061 kWh (Scope 2)
Carbon Intensity:198 metric tons CO2e per million ASM (E175 fleet in 2021); 250 metric tons CO2e per million ASM (CRJ200 fleet in 2021)
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate-related risks and opportunities
- Workforce diversity
- Employee attraction, retention, and growth opportunities
- Governance structure and oversight
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced fuel consumption by implementing single-engine taxi and idle reverse thrust landings, saving an estimated 2.9 million gallons of jet fuel and over 29,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
- Added Scope 2 purchased electricity emissions to their disclosure.
- Partnered with Eve Air Mobility for the development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
- Acquired 18 new Embraer E175 regional jets with more efficient carbon emissions per ASM than older jets.
- 45% of SkyWest’s motorized GSE was electric by the end of 2021.
Social Achievements
- Implemented employee incentives and initiatives to enhance attraction, retention, and growth opportunities for diverse employees.
- Implemented various safety initiatives to improve employee and passenger safety.
- Provided human trafficking awareness training to all frontline employees.
Governance Achievements
- Adopted TCFD and SASB frameworks to enhance climate risk evaluation, assessment, and disclosures.
- Enhanced TCFD and SASB reporting framework and disclosures.
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 (aligned with industry goals)
Medium-term Goals:
- Increase utilization of SAF to lower emissions.
- Continued collaboration with major airline partners on environmental decarbonization goals.
- Continued engagement with alternative powerplant manufacturers.
Short-term Goals:
- Establish goals, metrics, and measurement of progress on emissions reduction in collaboration with major airline partners.
Environmental Challenges
- Increased On-the-Job Injuries (OJI) per 200K Employee Hours in 2021 due to increased flying volume from COVID-19 recovery.
- Limited scale and availability of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
- Potential carbon taxes, domestic aviation emission reduction targets, and enhanced reporting requirements.
- Transition to low-carbon technologies (SAF, electric/hybrid-electric powerplants, hydrogen-based fuels).
- Potential impact of public perception of air travel on future customer demand.
- Increasing severity of weather events and longer-term changes in weather patterns.
- Inaccessibility of data for secondary estimations of Scope 2 emissions for 7% of facility locations.
Mitigation Strategies
- Implemented initiatives to reduce turbulence, slips/falls, and ergonomic issues.
- Partnered with insurance provider to develop Flight Attendant strain reduction training.
- Collaborating with major airline partners on their fuel emission initiatives and decarbonization goals.
- Fleet modernization with more efficient aircraft.
- Evaluating opportunities to use SAF in prorate operations when it becomes more readily available.
- Working with legal, environment, and finance teams to stay informed of possible regulations.
- Coordinating demand with major airline partners for new aircraft types with low-carbon technologies.
- Reducing the number of older, less-efficient aircraft.
- Monitoring and partnering in the development of alternative travel vehicles.
- Improving existing financial risk management processes by including climate impact considerations.
- Processes in place to manage operational disruptions due to weather or other circumstances.
- Facilities located strategically throughout the US to reduce susceptibility to widespread damage from significant weather.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Vendor Code of Conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Increasing severity of weather events
- Longer-term changes in weather patterns
Transition Risks
- Potential carbon taxes
- Domestic aviation emission reduction targets
- Transition to low-carbon technologies
- Public perception of air travel
Opportunities
- Reduced fuel consumption through fleet modernization and operational improvements
- Increased utilization of SAF
- Development of low-carbon aircraft
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: TCFD, SASB
Third-party Assurance: Sustainable Business Consulting, LLC (limited assurance on Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions)
Awards & Recognition
- SEA-Tac’s Fly Quiet Award (multiple years)
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:5,476,261 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:5,476,261 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:8,068 tCO2e/year
Renewable Energy Share:46% of motorized GSE
Total Energy Consumption:20,587,497 kWh/year
Carbon Intensity:220 metric tons CO2e per million ASMs (2022)
ESG Focus Areas
- Governance
- Safety
- Environment
- Social
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced Scope 2 emissions by 8.8% from 2021 to 2022.
- Operational fuel savings procedures saved approximately 31,445 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
Social Achievements
- 2022 employee injury rate finished 6% better than 2021 rate.
- Increased pilot compensation to reduce pilot attrition and incentivize captain upgrades.
Governance Achievements
- Maintained a corporate governance program aligned with evolving best practices.
- Benchmarked governance practices compared to major airline partners and guidelines from large institutional shareholders.
Climate Goals & Targets
Medium-term Goals:
- Begin replacing 10% of jet fuel with SAF by 2030.
Short-term Goals:
- Electrify 50% of Airport Operations motorized ground service equipment (GSE) by 2025.
Environmental Challenges
- Employee shortages across the country, impacting workforce composition and leading to staffing imbalances.
- Limited availability and high cost of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Mitigation Strategies
- Increased pay investments in every major workgroup.
- Enhanced recruitment and onboarding experience for new employees.
- Engaged with existing prorate fuel providers to discuss SAF availability and opportunities.
- Established a goal to begin replacing 10% of jet fuel with SAF by 2030.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Vendor Code of Conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Temperature extremes
- Wildfire
- River flooding
- Coastal flooding
- Drought
Transition Risks
- Carbon pricing
- Domestic aviation emission reduction targets
- CORSIA
- Transition to low-carbon technologies (SAF, alternative propulsion)
- Market changes
- Reputation risks
Opportunities
- Resource efficiency
- Energy sources (SAF)
- Products and services
- Markets
- Resilience
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: TCFD, SASB
Third-party Assurance: Point B (limited assurance on GHG emissions)
Awards & Recognition
- CEO of the Year Honoree (2023)
- CEO of the Year (2020)
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:4,960,304 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:4,957,085 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:6,618 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:Not disclosed
Renewable Energy Share:47% of motorized GSE
Total Energy Consumption:20,047,073 MWh/year
Water Consumption:14,714,916 gallons/year
Waste Generated:Not disclosed
Carbon Intensity:See report for various carbon intensity metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Governance
- Safety
- Environment
- Social
Environmental Achievements
- Transitioned one airport to electric GSE in 2023
- Purchased five units and ordered eight units for airports for transition to electric GSE in 2024
- Reduced paper waste through electronic manuals and electronic flight bags
- Operational fuel savings procedures saved approximately 35,955 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)
Social Achievements
- Updated Human Rights Statement
- Made significant pay and benefit enhancements in every major workgroup
- First regional airline to provide flight attendants with boarding pay
- Named one of “America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity” and “America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women” by Newsweek in 2024
Governance Achievements
- Benchmarked governance practices against major airline partners, institutional shareholder guidelines, and independent ESG research and rating agencies
- Reviewed findings with the Board of Directors
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
- Begin replacing 10% of jet fuel with SAF by 2030
Short-term Goals:
- Electrify 50% of Airport Operations motorized ground service equipment (GSE) by 2025
Environmental Challenges
- Shortage of regional airline captains due to strong hiring by major airlines, low-cost carriers, and cargo air providers
- Limited availability and high cost of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
- Limited infrastructure for electric Ground Support Equipment (GSE) at some airports
Mitigation Strategies
- Significant investments in frontline employees to reduce attrition
- Continued discussions with fuel providers about SAF availability and opportunities
- Coordinating with airports to transition to electric GSE and upgrade infrastructure
- Implementing operational efficiency measures to reduce fuel consumption
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Review of top suppliers by expense and evaluation of their environmental and social commitments
Responsible Procurement
- Vendor Code of Conduct
- Human Rights Statement
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Temperature extremes
- River flooding
- Wildfire
- Drought
- Pluvial flooding
Transition Risks
- Carbon pricing
- Decarbonization mandates
- Transition to low-carbon technologies
- Market shifts
- Reputational risks
Opportunities
- Resource efficiency
- Energy sources (SAF)
- Products and services
- Markets
- Resilience
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB, TCFD
Certifications: Null
Third-party Assurance: KERAMIDA Inc.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Not disclosed
Awards & Recognition
- Fly Quiet Award (Vancouver Airport Authority)
- America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity
- America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women