Eco-Friendly Travel: Airlines Committed to Sustainability

When it comes to environmentally friendly products, people today search for eco-friendly reusable products and services in the category of environmentally friendly products. Speaking of which, few airlines like Qatar Airways remain absolutely committed to protecting the environment as much as we are committed to our passengers. Whether it’s being one of the world’s most efficient fleets or providing you with the option to reduce your flight’s carbon footprint, the goal is to lead the way in environmental stewardship across all of our operations and pave the way for a brighter future.

What makes an airline eco-friendly?

Contrary to popular belief, air travel is actually one of the most eco-friendly ways to travel. In fact, the average fuel consumption per passenger by an airline is less than 4 liters per 100 km. As airlines strive to meet internal and industry targets for fuel consumption, this figure will continue to improve year after year. Here are a few ways an airline can become more eco-friendly:

1. Upgrade to a more eco-friendly fleet. Older aircraft consume more kerosene and other materials, while newer aircraft are equipped with winglets, which add to the ends of the wings, reducing drag and overall fuel consumption.

2. Use more eco-friendly materials. This includes not only the aircraft itself (e.g., installing carbon fiber seats) but also materials used for magazines, beverage carts (which are lighter), and even in-flight phones (which are removed).

3. Serving eco-friendly food is what we do best. In-flight vegan and vegetarian meals are becoming more popular as consumers demand more vegan and vegetarian options. Meat-free meals are more eco-friendly because industrial meat production has a negative impact on the environment.

4. Providing passengers with more options.
Many low-fare, no-obligation airlines are leading the way in terms of eco-friendliness, as they ‘unbundle’ fares, giving passengers the freedom to choose what they want to buy and what they don’t. Not only does this save you money, but many choose to only carry their carry-on luggage, which, as we’ve talked about in our tips on eco-friendly travel, is an environmentally friendly way to fly.

Now, if we look closely, a few steps that are needed to achieve these goals are:

1. Environmental policy:
   These airlines are leading industry efforts to combat wildlife trafficking in collaboration with United for Wildlife (UFW). Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050: As the world’s first global alliance, these airlines pledge to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Qatar Airways Carbon Offset Programs: Qatar Airways passengers have the power to offset their flight’s carbon emissions at the time they book, as per its carbon offset programs.
2. Climate and Energy:
   Due to the global nature of climate change, they are aligned with global industry objectives to respond to this challenge and have implemented the IATA’s 4-pillar strategy into our strategy to respond to climate change emissions:
   1.  Technology- A single global measure of technology, Qatar Airways, is one of the world’s youngest fleets.
   2. Operations,
   3. Infrastructure,
   4. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) While drivers for SAF adoption are gaining momentum, challenges remain, including scalability and the cost of production and deployment.
3. Water:
   These airlines reduce waste and find ways to reuse or recover material for other uses. They apply the principles of the circular economy throughout their operations.
   These initiatives cover all phases of operations and include:
   1. Reducing single-use plastic.
   2. Reducing food waste and recycling materials.
   3. Water conservation.
   4. QACC partners with the local Qatari charity Hifz Al Naema to redistribute excess food and beverages to charitable organizations in Qatar.
   5. First to use General Electric’s ‘360 Foam Wash’ as a replacement for GE engines.
4. Noise and air:
   Airbus A350 with quieter engines: The Airbus A350 and a new generation of aircraft (Boeing 787) with aerodynamic improvements and quieter engines are significantly quieter than their predecessors, with a minimum of 15% less noise. Effective Noise Management: ICAO’s Balanced Approach to Aircraft Noise Management (BAIM) and Noise Abatement Procedures help these types of airlines reduce the noise impact from incoming and outgoing aircraft.
5. IEnvA Certification:
   Qatar Airways is proud to be the first Middle East carrier to achieve IEnvA (Environmental Assessment Program) certification, the highest level of certification available from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
   The continuous improvement of environmental performance is achieved through the implementation of policies across all business processes and the training of all employees to promote environmental ambition.
6. Wildlife protection:
   Alongside United for Wildlife, we are leading industry initiatives to stop wildlife trafficking. We are supporting the United Nations wildlife team to travel worldwide to raise awareness on the consequences of wildlife trafficking, beginning with UfW’s global summit in Singapore in May 2019.

Qatar Airways became the world’s first airline to gain certification under the IATA’s ‘Illegal Wildlife Trade Assessment’, which was developed with Royal Foundation and ROUTES partnership support.

In 2020, we launched the new chapter of We Qare’s sustainability program, ‘Rewild the Planet’, for Qatar Airways Cargo, with the aim of bringing endangered wildlife back to its natural habitat free of charge.

You can also compensate for the CO2 emissions of your flight as a responsible traveler

When you book with airlines such as Qatar Airways, you can opt to reduce and offset your flight emissions by selecting the ‘donate and offset emissions’ drop-down menu in your booking flow. This option can be managed through your profile on the airline’s website or mobile application.
Your contribution to QR’s voluntary carbon offsetting scheme will be reallocated to support clean and renewable energy investments.
For corporate travelers, you can also choose to reduce and offset all past and future flight-related emissions through the websites of the airlines in bulk.

Choose modern, fuel-saving aircraft like Qatar Airways’ youngest fleet, which produces 25% fewer emissions than earlier-generation aircraft, as a responsible traveler. Use multiple transit modes, such as plane-to-train links with French and German trains (Deutsche Bahn, SNCF), for easy connections to major European cities.

Some of the other examples of eco-friendly air carriers for eco-friendly travelers include:

1. Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines is committed to environmental responsibility and transparency. They are constantly looking for new ways to reduce their environmental footprint. To date, Alaska Airlines has gone strawless on flights, composted grounds from in-flight coffee, and used the ‘Greener Skies’ approaches in avionics to reduce fuel consumption. Additionally, Alaska Airlines has partnered with the Port of Seattle, as well as Boeing, to use sustainable biofuel to power all flights by Alaska Airlines at Seattle Tacoma International Airport.

2. Delta Air Lines

Delta is reducing its fuel emissions, reducing water waste, reducing hazardous waste, and implementing a recycling program. Delta announced on Earth Day 2019 that it will invest in carbon offsets and will purchase approximately 50,000 carbon offsets.

Delta is in the process of eliminating all single-use plastics from its flights, including stir sticks, wraps, utensils, and more. Delta estimates that it will eliminate more than 300,00 pounds of plastic waste annually.

In March 2020, Delta announced a $1 billion commitment over the next decade on its journey to reduce all emissions. Delta’s commitment for 2021 will continue to include:

A. Investing in driving innovation
B. Advancing clean air travel technologies
C. Reducing carbon emissions and waste
D. Implementing new projects to mitigate the balance of emissions

3. American Airlines

American Airlines is looking to invest in new, modern, and more efficient aircraft. This could be in the form of brand new aircraft or upgrading planes that are not yet ready to retire. The airline is always looking for new ways to save money and reduce emissions. This could include installing winglets on the wing ends, reducing weight on the aircraft, going paperless in cabins, or introducing a new way of taxiing called one-engine.

In 2020, American Airlines declared its ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

4. KLM

KLM’s climate action plan, which dates back to 2008, aims to improve the sustainability of the airline’s operations, both in the air and on land. This includes responsible waste management, the recycling of materials, and efforts to reduce noise pollution.

5. United Airlines

United Airlines has a number of processes in place to reduce its environmental footprint as much as possible. These include fuel efficiency and emissions reductions, the use of sustainable products, investments in sustainable fuels, and the development and maintenance of partnerships to support sustainability and environmental protection. In 2018, United announced that it would cut its carbon emissions by half by 2050.

United launched a ‘flight for the planet’ in June 2019, billed as the most environmentally friendly flight of all time, using sustainable biofuel and eliminating all cabin waste. The statistics from this flight were as follows: 3.3% more fuel was saved than a typical flight; 40 tons more carbon dioxide was offset to make up for the aircraft’s fuel consumption; and waste was reduced by approximately one-third. United plans to take the lessons learned from this flight and apply them to other policies in the near future.

United Airlines is looking to electrify flights by 2030. The company is planning to launch an electric-powered aircraft, the Heart Aerospace ES-30, which will be a fully electric-powered aircraft with a seating capacity of about 30 passengers. United has already placed an order for 100 ES-30s and is currently at the forefront of efforts to reduce CO2 emissions from the aviation sector.

6. British Airways

British Airways is committed to doing business in an environmentally responsible way and does so by:

• Preventing pollution.
• reducing the impact of pollution on the environment.
• protecting the natural environment.
• reducing CO2 emissions per passenger.
• reducing noise per flight.
• Minimizing waste by increasing the reuse and recycling of materials.
• New eco-friendly amenity kits for premium economy cabins.
• World Traveler Plus amenity kits are created from recycled materials, including plastic bottles.

British Airways plans to build a plant in Lincolnshire that will convert everyday household waste and commercial waste to jet fuel for its airplanes, with plans to convert over 500,000 metric tons per year.

7. Jetblue

Jetblue is dedicated to reducing its environmental footprint, and we take pride in being open and honest about our progress.

In 2013, JetBlue announced an on-board recycling program, as well as partnerships with Dunkin’ Donuts and Jamba Juice, as well as Royal Waste Services, to compost food waste in Terminal 5 of New York’s JFK Airport.

Jetblue also announced the establishment of the world’s first blue potato farm at an airport, the Jetblue T5 farm’, as well as the addition of a new outdoor space on the airport’s T5 rooftop.

Qualities of an Accommodation Committed to Sustainability or Eco-Friendly Hotels

• While finding sustainable hotels, accommodations, or eco-friendly hotels can be difficult, it’s an essential part of the travel industry’s sustainable travel experience. The travel industry is dedicated to creating experiences and trips that are sustainable from start to finish. The entire supply chain is sustainable, from transport to local guides and accommodation. Sustainable accommodations are chosen based on things like fit, target group appeal, and tourism values. Here are a few things to consider when looking for sustainable hotels or housing:
• Sustainable accommodations should share their story and add value to your client experience. Sustainable accommodations Partner with local businesses and hire local people to work in the hospitality industry.
• Investing in locally sourced and sustainable products boosts local economies and ensures clients receive healthy and locally sourced food.
• Supporting local communities is essential for sustainable tourism. Sustainable accommodations operate their businesses in a socially responsible way.
• Waste management is a major issue in the tourism sector, and accommodations can help by removing plastic waste and recycling it.
• Efficient water usage, energy efficiency, and nature conservation are essential for sustainability.
• Sustainable accommodations provide responsible travel experiences that offer guests activities and respect local communities. Sustainable accommodations Follow transparent operational guidelines to minimize negative environmental impacts and maximize positive impacts on guests.

Conclusion

Eco-friendly travel plays an essential role in a sustainable future. Conscious decisions have a significant influence on everything from reducing trash to helping local communities. By choosing eco-friendly lodgings, lowering carbon footprints, and conserving the environment, each visitor becomes a steward of change, safeguarding the earth for future generations.

“Fly with Purpose: Embrace Eco-Friendly Journeys with Qatar Airways – Your Sustainable Travel Choice for a Greener Future!”