NEWS

Hyderabad, June 04, 2026: As climate change reshapes industries across the globe, aviation finds itself at a critical crossroads balancing its role as an engine of economic growth with its responsibility to future generations. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), has made a decisive choice: to lead on sustainability. By achieving Net Zero Carbon emissions for Scope 1 and Scope 2 well ahead of schedule, and by embedding sustainability across operations, infrastructure, technology, and community engagement, RGIA has positioned itself as a benchmark for future-ready, responsible aviation player in the ecosystem.

GHIAL's Role in Shaping a Sustainable Aviation Ecosystem

RGIA is more than a gateway for passengers and cargo. GHIAL's decarbonization framework is anchored to two globally recognised commitments:

• UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action) taking urgent, measurable steps to combat climate change and its impact on communities, ecosystems, and economies.
• ICAO's Long-Term Global Aspirational Goal for 2050, steering aviation toward net-zero carbon emissions, in alignment with the Paris Agreement.

GHIAL is aligned with 16 out of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), embedding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles across every layer of airport operations. The airport has structured its net-zero ambition across two clear horizons: Net Zero for Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2035, and Net Zero for Scope 3 emissions by 2050 both in alignment with ICAO, IATA, and ACI requirements.

RGIA achieved Net Zero Carbon for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in 2024, 11 years ahead of its original 2035 target.

Multiple Initiatives Driving Sustainable Change

GHIAL's sustainability is not a single programme, it is an ecosystem of interconnected initiatives spanning energy, water, waste, biodiversity, and community development.

Green Buildings: World-Class Sustainability at the Terminal

• The Passenger Terminal Building at RGIA achieved LEED Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2025, one of the highest distinctions in sustainable building design globally. This certification reflects the terminal's integrated approach to energy efficiency, indoor air quality, sustainable materials, and water conservation. The terminal is built not just to serve passengers today, but to minimize its environmental footprint for decades to come.

Airport Carbon Accreditation: One of India’s Highest-Certified Airport

• In 2025, RGIA became the recipient of ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 5 — the highest level achievable under the programme. The airport avoided 54,168tCO₂e emissions in CY 2025.

Transition to 100% Green Energy

• RGIA is now powered by 100% green electricity. This is made possible through a dual-source approach: RGIA's own 10 MWp onsite solar power plant — generating clean, renewable energy around the clock — combined with green power purchase from the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company (TGSPDCL).
• The results are transformative. Scope 2 emissions have been reduced to zero through this green power strategy, with onsite solar accounting for 13% of GHIAL’s net electricity consumption in CY 2025, reducing grid dependence and saving INR 96,982,003

Energy-Efficient Operations Across the Terminal and Airside:

• Across the terminal, conventional lighting has been entirely replaced with LED systems, delivering significant energy savings without compromising the passenger experience. HVAC systems are optimised dynamically based on operational demand, with efficient chiller plants and cooling towers that respond to real-time conditions.
• On the airside, the reduction of diesel generator dependency has been achieved through a Fast Bus Transfer System (FBTS). A growing fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) has replaced conventional fuel-powered ground support equipment (GSE), with a dedicated 5 MWp electrical charging infrastructure commissioned on the airside to enable airlines and ground handlers to make their own transition to electric GSE.

Sustainable Airside Operations: Reducing Aircraft Emissions

• RGIA has pioneered practices that reduce aircraft-level emissions. Single-engine taxiing protocols encourage airlines to power down one engine during taxi-in and taxi-out operations, reducing jet fuel burn and associated emissions directly on the apron.
• Bridge Mounted Equipment (BME) comprising Fixed Electrical Ground Power Units (FEGPU) and Pre-conditioned Air (PCA) units has been installed at gates, allowing aircraft to connect to clean ground power instead of running their onboard Auxiliary Power Units (APUs). APUs are a significant source of fuel consumption and emissions during ground time; BME eliminates this entirely. In CY2025, this initiatives alone avoided 19,485 tCO₂e of emissions.
• Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) further optimises turnaround and taxi efficiency, reducing unnecessary fuel consumption across the operational ecosystem.
• RGIA has introduced India's first Mobile Environmental Parameters Monitoring System mounted on an electric vehicle, which continuously measures ambient air quality, noise levels, and weather parameters across the airport campus in real time.
• A first-of-its-kind initiative at an Indian airport, Hyderabad International Airport’s GSE tunnel streamlines the movement of ground support equipment and operational vehicles, reducing turnaround delays, fuel consumption, and congestion. This sustainability-focused infrastructure saves approximately 124 tonnes of carbon emissions annually

Water Stewardship: A Model of Circular Water Management

• Water conservation is central to RGIA's sustainability identity. The airport operates with a Zero Liquid Discharge philosophy ensuring no wastewater leaves the system untreated and unutilized.
• Four storm water reservoirs across the campus have a combined storage capacity of 10.35 lakh kiloliters, used for domestic purposes and groundwater recharge. The airport's Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) recycle 4,550 KLD of wastewater daily, which is reused for flushing, cooling towers, and irrigation reducing dependence on municipal and groundwater sources significantly.
• The progress has been measurable: in FY 2025–26, approximately 59% of RGIA's total water requirement was met from internal recycled sources. This trajectory positions RGIA as one of India's most water-efficient large infrastructure assets.

Carbon Sink Development and Biodiversity

• RGIA's greenbelt development across the airport premises functions as an active carbon sink, absorbing approximately 776 tonnes of CO₂ for CY 2025. The greenbelt also supports a rich biodiversity ecosystem, with diverse flora and fauna including birds, butterflies, mammals, and amphibians recorded around the airport.

Waste Management: Closing the Loop on Food Waste

• RGIA has invested in a centralised Organic Waste Converter (OWC) facility with a total capacity of 14 tonnes per day, supported by seven newly procured OWC units of 2 TPD each. Food waste generated across the airport is processed and converted into compost, which is then used as organic manure for landscaping within the airport premises, a true closed-loop approach to waste management.
• Single-use plastic (SUP) is prohibited entirely within the RGIA ecosystem, reflecting the airport's commitment to responsible consumption and production.

Measuring the path to Net Zero

GHG (Green House Gas) Emissions: A 95% Reduction in 15 Years

• In CY 2010, RGIA's combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions stood at 28,865 tCO₂e the baseline against which all progress is measured.
• By CY 2025, these emissions had fallen to just 1,413 tCO₂e representing a 95% reduction over 15 years. The trajectory has been consistent and accelerating: from 13,732 tCO₂e in 2023, to 2,395 tCO₂e in 2024, to 1,413 tCO₂e in 2025.

The primary drivers of this reduction are green power procurement and onsite solar generation together responsible for eliminating Scope 2 emissions entirely alongside aggressive fleet electrification and airside innovation.

Total GHG Emissions Avoided in CY2025: 1,34,165 tCO₂e

• Beyond RGIA's own operational footprint, the airport's initiatives have enabled a broader system-wide emissions avoidance of 1,34,165 tCO₂e in CY 2025 across Scope 1, 2, and 3.

Scope 3 Emissions: Acknowledging the Bigger Picture

• RGIA's Scope 3 emissions which include aircraft operations, passenger ground transport, supply chain, and more peaked at 22,73,521 tCO₂e in CY 2024 which is the baseline for GHIAL’s Scope 3 GHG emissions. RGIA have a target to achieve Scope 3 Net Zero by 2050 and have developed a Stakeholder Partnership Plan to achieve the same. The Scope 3 emissions in CY 2025 is 15,10,961 tCO₂e.

Conclusion: The Blueprint for India's Green Aviation Future

The global aviation industry faces one of its most consequential transitions from a sector historically dependent on fossil fuels to one that must align with humanity's climate imperatives. As Hyderabad Airport looks ahead, the focus remains on maintaining Net Zero operations, scaling sustainable innovation, strengthening partnerships across the aviation value chain, and enhancing passenger-centric experiences. In fifteen years, RGIA has reduced its direct emissions by 95%. Achieving Net Zero (for Scope 1 & 2 emissions) ahead of target, advancing towards Scope 3 decarbonisation, and delivering strong economic and social outcomes underscore this commitment. RGIA is building an airport for the next generation: one where every flight, every terminal experience, and every operational decision reflects a deeper commitment to the planet.