Aviation plans greener, more efficient future
Aviation sustainability is moving beyond environmental disclosure to become a core component of national strategy. Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS) is integrating environmental goals into every level of corporate governance and operational planning, aiming to reduce flight emissions by 30 percent by 2032. As the Kingdom prepares for major international events, the provider says it must keep flights moving safely while helping the wider aviation ecosystem become cleaner and more efficient.
Embedding ESG into strategy
SANS formalized sustainability as the company’s sixth strategic pillar in 2024. This move aligns the firm’s governance with international frameworks, including ISO 31000 and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. The organization structured its approach across three tiers: a Sustainability Steering Committee for strategic direction, an ESG Committee for cross-functional execution, and a Sustainability Community for organization-wide engagement.
Financial reporting follows International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and the company recently published its first ESG report using GRI benchmarks. This structure gives investors, regulators and partners internationally comparable visibility of performance. The goal is to deliver long-term value responsibly across every decision-making layer.
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Modernizing infrastructure and technology
Disciplined capital allocation supports this growth. The company has created two subsidiaries: NERA, which channels air navigation expertise into technology services for clients across the MENA region, and the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation (SACA), which builds specialized national talent. Investment decisions are assessed against safety, operational efficiency and environmental performance, not just financial return.
Finance plays a role in evaluating major capital expenditures to ensure resources go toward initiatives that create long-term operational and environmental value. The Saudi Future Airspace Concept, Free Route Airspace, Performance-Based Navigation and continuous climb and descent operations help reduce fuel burn and flight inefficiencies. These operational improvements support the Civil Aviation Environmental Sustainability Program (CAESP), the Kingdom’s national environmental roadmap for aviation, which cascades directly from Vision 2030.
Efficiency in the finance function itself supports these goals. SANS developed a connected technology environment to strengthen accuracy and control. The Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) platform for planning and budgeting replaced fragmented spreadsheets with a controlled environment, while digital automation across billing and customer engagement supports the same discipline. Power BI dashboards give management timely visibility across the business, and a Financial Governance App provides structured oversight of financial practices. These advancements reduce manual effort and duplicated reporting, lowering the operational footprint of finance activities while equipping the company to track sustainability KPIs with accuracy.
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Procurement decisions prioritize local content to support Saudi manufacturers and retain economic value within the Kingdom. The Local Content Programme has supported supplier engagement and developed a qualified list of local manufacturers. A supplier classification framework integrated into the ERP system, supported by a formal feedback survey, captures needs and improvement opportunities.
In 2025, the Supply Chain team won the globally recognised CIPS Procurement Excellence Award.
Strong governance protects safety, efficient operations help reduce emissions, and disciplined financial management funds the technology and infrastructure that enable both. This integrated approach ensures that growth, safety and regulation support one another rather than working in isolation.
