Headline
Tier 1
Commercial, General & Business Aviation united on sustainable path
Commercial and general aviation are actively pursuing net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through a mix of sustainable fuels, operational efficiencies, and advanced propulsion technologies. EASA
The classification and definitions have been elaborated by ICAO to support the process of preparing and updating the various Annexes to the Chicago Convention and related documents such as manuals and circular.
Commercial aviation
Scheduled passenger airlines operating on global networks, scaling the bulk adoption of sustainable aviation fuels and fleet-wide efficiency enhancements.
A scheduled international air service is a series of flights that possesses all the following characteristics:
a) it passes through the airspace over the territory of more than one State;
b) it is performed by aircraft for the transport of passengers, mail or cargo for remuneration, in such a manner that each flight is open to use by members of the public;
c) it is operated, so as to serve traffic between the same two or more points, either i) according to a published timetable, or ii) with flights so regular or frequent that they constitute a recognizably systematic series. [1]
[1] Reference: Policy and Guidance on the Economic Regulation of International Air Transport ICAO (Doc 9587).
General aviation
Private, charter, and business operations that pioneer new technologies, proving concepts rapidly before transferring lessons to larger carrier fleets.
A non-scheduled air service is a commercial air transport service performed as other than a scheduled air service. A charter flight is a non-scheduled operation using a chartered aircraft. Though the terms non-scheduled and charter (i.e. a contractual arrangement between an air carrier and an entity hiring or leasing its aircraft) have come to be used interchangeably, it should be noted that not all commercial non-scheduled operations are charter flights.[1]
ICAO under its classification of non-schedule services also includes on demand services which comprehend Air taxi and commercial business aviation (the latest can be both commercial and General Aviation depending on whether or not there is a charge for the service provided).
[1] Reference: Manual on the Regulation Of International Air Transport , ICAO (Doc 9626), Third Edition, 2016, Chapter 4.6, Non-Scheduled Air services, at p. 150.
Business aviation
Business aviation can be either commercial or General Aviation. This sub-segment serves as SAF testing, and emissions reduction methodologies across both sectors.
Business flying is defined as the use of an aircraft to carry personnel and/or property to meet the transport needs of officials of a business, firm, company or corporation. These flights may be performed by a commercial pilot or by a private pilot.
Corporate aviation. The non-commercial operation or use of aircraft by a company for the carriage of passengers (company executives) or goods as an aid to the conduct of company business, flown by a professional pilot employed to fly the aircraft. Note that corporate aviation is a subset of general aviation.
In the corporate aviation can be distinguished the so called Fractional ownership which refers to the shared ownership of expansive assets such as aircraft. In general, the fractional owner pays regular fees to a company that manages the asset (operates the aircraft) on behalf of all owners.
Sector
Tier 2
Dispelling the biggest myth in green aviation
Many believe that sustainability begins exclusively with major airlines. In reality, agile private operators and general aviation serve as the crucial initial test grounds where emissions reduction techniques are developed, validated, and later adopted by commercial flag carriers.
The role of private aircraft owners and travelers
Private aircraft owners and discerning travelers are at the forefront of the shift toward zero-emission flights. Because general aviation functions with higher operational flexibility, it can integrate SAF blends, explore hybrid propulsion, and experiment with optimized flight paths faster than heavily regulated scheduled airliners, accelerating real-world progress for all air transport.
Knowledge and advisory for clean air transport
Based in Milan, NextGen Air Mobility provides comprehensive insights into sustainable aviation frameworks. We help operators, corporate travel departments, and stakeholders understand regulatory evolution, technological breakthroughs, and actionable decarbonization pathways.
