Etihad Airways recently tested out EcoFlights that are purportedly better for the environment. 

The Abu Dhabi-based airline announced today that it operated 42 of the flights in a five-day period. Here are some of the green practices the flights implemented and their potential environmental impact:

• Using a software to suggest an ideal speed based on the condition of the atmosphere and the weight of the plane. It was developed with the US aircraft manufacturer Boeing and saved 1.5% of fuel per flight. 
• Landing with one of the plane's engines shut off, since landing only requires the use of one engine. 
• Landing using the airplanes’ flaps at a “reduced” level on long runaways. This requires less fuel to slow down. 
• Using optimized flight paths and ascent and descent patterns to cut flight times by at least 40 minutes, thus reducing carbon dioxide emissions. 

Why it matters: Air travel is a major cause of air pollution, so using greener flying practices could have a positive impact on the environment. 

Etihad said in the press release that sustainable aviation fuel will be needed to make a significant dent in the carbon emissions from air travel.