A multi-billion-dollar Boeing fleet investment, engine taxiing and weight management have all contributed to Virgin Atlantic reducing total aircraft carbon emissions by 22% since 2007, with similar footprint reductions generated for other carbon-efficiency measurements.
The carbon savings, revealed in Virgin Atlantic"™s latest sustainability report on Monday (26 June), were accelerated through an 8% reduction in 2016 alone. Virgin Atlantic has claimed that the latest figures have put the airline "well ahead" of the International Air Transport Association"™s (IATA) industry targets for 2020.
Virgin Atlantic"™s chief executive Craig Kreeger said: "2016 was a landmark year for sustainability at Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays, in which we delivered significant carbon savings, drove improvements in sustainable onboard food and drink, and raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for our charity partners.
"Despite political and economic headwinds, we remain fully committed to our sustainability programme and will continue to drive new ways to reduce carbon emissions, and promote responsible supply chain and tourism practices."
The latest sustainability report reveals that CO2 per km travelled by passengers had also been reduced by 22%, while CO2 per revenue tonne km was reduced by 17%.
The reductions were delivered though investments into the Boeing 787 aircraft and from 2019, 12 Airbus models will enter into service that will deliver a 30% carbon saving on each flight.
Virgin Atlantic has also introduced new measures to create a low-carbon fuel, by recycling carbon in waste industrial gases through clean tech firm LanzaTech. Virgin Atlantic has described the alcohol-to-jet fuel as a "gamechanger", with at least three million gallons set to be generated through the partnership…
