Eco-Aviation Channel

Other News

Virgin Blue joins AGD
TAP onboard with IATA offset program
JAL receives green light on more efficient routings
Dutch government announced that from July 1 it will abandon its deeply unpopular "eco tax"

By Geoffrey Thomas
Eco-Aviation Today, June 10, 2009, p.5

Virgin Blue joins AGD The Virgin Blue Group of carriers is the first Australian operator to join the Aviation Global Deal Group. AGD is a coalition of airlines and BAA along with international nonprofit The Climate Group that was formed to work for inclusion of aviation in a "new global climate deal" scheduled to be discussed at December's UN climate summit in Copenhagen. In April, the AGD presented a draft policy framework for aviation emissions to UN climate change negotiators in Bonn.

Virgin Blue Chief Executive Brett Godfrey said his company, which also includes V Australia, New Zealand-based Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue, a JV airline with the government of Samoa, is committed to continuous improvement and sustainable aviation practices. "Already we are pursuing initiatives across a wide range of our operations to offset the impact of our emissions and to limit emissions at source. We believe there is a limit to what individual airlines can achieve and it makes sense to work together globally with like-minded organizations to seek a uniform and integrated approach to international policy on aviation's contribution to climate change," Godfrey told Eco-Aviation Today.

TAP onboard with IATA offset program

IATA launched its global Carbon Offset Program with TAP as the launch airline. The IATA-administered industrywide scheme is a ready-made tool enabling airlines to offer their passengers the ability to compensate for their carbon emissions with contributions toward carbon reduction projects in developing countries. "I am delighted that TAP is the launch airline for the IATA carbon offset program," said DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani.

The program calculates carbon emissions based on a methodology developed by ICAO. IATA administers the process on behalf of airlines. This includes advising on project selection, arranging the purchase of carbon credits and managing and providing offset tracking.

JAL receives green light on more efficient routings

Japan Airlines Group plans to extend the use of User Preferred Routes on its flights between Japan and Australia after receiving the green light from the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, US FAA and Australian authorities. UPR trials on the routes between Tokyo Narita and Brisbane and Sydney started earlier this month. JAL forecasts that on its once-daily roundtrip flights to both destinations it will save up to 1 million lb. of fuel, which translates to an approximate decrease in CO2 emissions of 1,400 tons.

JAL started using continuous descent arrival in May for flights landing late at night and early in the morning at Osaka Kansai. It estimates that on the three daily flights during the applicable times, CDA can save an estimated 560,000 lb. of fuel, reducing CO2 gas emissions by 800 tons.

Dutch government announced that from July 1 it will abandon its deeply unpopular "eco tax" on passengers of €11 for intra-EU flights and €45 for intercontinental flights from all Dutch airports. The tax was introduced on July 1, 2008, in the face of strong protests by airline and airport groups. The back-flip possibly can be explained by a significant drop in passengers through Schiphol, with most opting to fly to their intended destinations from Belgian or German airports. Schiphol, often called the "engine of the Dutch economy," recently announced planned job cuts equating to 25% of its workforce.

Get Copyright Permissions Click here for copyright permissions!
Copyright 2010 Penton Media