A group of airlines have come together to form a new non-profit organisation with the aim of accelerating breakthroughs in emerging technologies that could decarbonise the aviation industry.

The Aviation Climate Taskforce (ACT), which consists of Air Canada, Air France-KLM, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, together with management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group, said it would initially focus on “medium-term solutions” such as synthetic fuel and direct air capture.

Over time, the portfolio will expand to include more “near-term solutions”, such as sustainable aviation fuel pathways, and “longer-term solutions” such as hydrogen technologies, the group said.

ACT’s efforts will be supported by an ‘Innovation Network’, which it said would map research across the sector, provide grant funding and host innovation challenges.

The group will also be supported by the ‘Collaboration Forum’, which it said would identify other ways to jointly reduce carbon emissions, such as expediting the adoption and scale up of next generation technologies through engagement with experts and thought leaders.

In the future, ACT said it planned to launch an investment fund which will provide capital to fund emerging technologies.