Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Marilee Crocker
    • Paul M. Ruden
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Kelly Fontenelle

More Airlines Go Carbon-Neutral to Counter “Plane Shaming” Trend

by Barbara Peterson / January 09, 2020
More Airlines Go Carbon-Neutral to Counter “Plane Shaming” Trend

JetBlue is planning on becoming carbon-neutral by July. Photo: JetBlue


JetBlue this week said it plans to become carbon-neutral by July, claiming it will be the first major U.S. carrier to offset all emissions from its domestic flights.

The move comes as the airline industry grapples with how to respond to growing calls to curb emissions from climate change activists. As the “plane-shaming” movement has gained momentum, mainly in Northern Europe, airlines are under increasing pressure to declare what they are doing to reduce their carbon footprint. Aviation contributes about 2.6% of all global carbon dioxide emissions, according to the International Energy Agency.  

JetBlue’s plan is among the most ambitious, and potentially expensive – but the carrier said that it will not raise air fares to cover any of the costs. The company said it will earn carbon credits by investing in carbon-reduction projects that develop alternative sources of energy. The move is “the equivalent of removing more than 1.5 million passenger vehicles from the road” per year, the airline said.

Other airlines have come out with similar plans. EasyJet, a UK budget airline, late last year said it was already operating net-zero carbon flights throughout its entire network. The airline said it achieved this by partnering with forestry projects and other carbon-reducing programs. 

Related Articles

TMR’s Outlook on Sustainability Now Available
 

British Airways and Air France have jumped on the bandwagon with their own plans, but given their size, it will take longer. Air France, for example, says it wants to cut its emissions per passenger by 50% by 2030. Qantas, which operates a significant number of ultra-long-haul flights, says it intends to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, but in the meantime, it will be capping its emissions at 2020 levels, and will match passengers’ voluntary offsets. The airline said about 10% of its customers currently pay extra to offset their flights. 

Major U.S. airlines have also come out with environmental goals. Alaska, Delta and United, among others, have carbon offset programs and are also aiming to be carbon-neutral within the next few decades.

But other airlines are emphasizing that sustainable fuels are the way to go, noting that carbon offsets do not really solve the problem. KLM said it is already purchasing sustainable aviation fuel, composed of used cooking oil, for some of its flights out of its Amsterdam hub. In its announcement this week, JetBlue said it will be testing sustainable fuels on flights out of San Francisco. But it could be many years before these alternative fuels are widely adopted; currently they are far more expensive than fossil fuels.

  0
  0

MOST VIEWED

Brought To You By
  1. Princess Cruises Forced to Adjust Alaska Sailings After White Pass Rail Road Decision
  2. River Cruise Lines Prepare to Deal with Low Water Levels on the Rhine
  3. Updated Cruise Line COVID-19 Vaccination, Booster, & Testing Requirements
  4. Lufthansa Group of Airlines Will Change its Distribution Cost Charge Starting in September
  5. SAS Pilot Strike Intensifies, Another 250 Flights Canceled on Monday
  6. Here Is Some of the New CDC Guidance on Cruise Ship Travel

MOST EMAILED

Brought To You By
  1. River Cruise Lines Prepare to Deal with Low Water Levels on the Rhine
  2. Updated Cruise Line COVID-19 Vaccination, Booster, & Testing Requirements
  3. Canada Will Restart Random COVID-19 Testing at Airports Next Week
  4. Southwest Airlines’ Flight Credits Will No Longer Expire
  5. U.S. Passport Wait Time Is Now 8 to 11 Weeks for ‘Routine Service’
  6. Viking Cruises' New Octantis Is So Much More than Just a Cruise Ship
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Hong Kong Cuts Hotel Quarantine to Three Days
Hong Kong Cuts Hotel Quarantine to Three Days

Travelers will still have four days of home medical surveillance after the hotel quarantine. 

Read...
WestJet Adds Service Between Penticton and Vancouver
WestJet Adds Service Between Penticton and Vancouver

Penticton is the 11th destination for WestJet link.

Read...
Canada is Now Allowing More Travelers to Complete Customs and Immigration Forms Ahead of Time
Canada is Now Allowing More Travelers to Complete Customs and Immigration Forms Ahead of Time

CBSA is expanding ArriveCAN's immigration functions to seven other airports “in the coming months.”

Read...
France Drops Remaining COVID-19 Requirements for Travel
France Drops Remaining COVID-19 Requirements for Travel

Travel to France is back to normal. 

Read...
British Airways Is Suspending Sales of Short Haul Flights from Heathrow for One Week
British Airways Is Suspending Sales of Short Haul Flights from Heathrow for One Week

The move will limit ticket sales for flights from Heathrow to some other short-haul U.K. and European cities until Aug. 8. 

Read...
What to Know About Traveling to St. Kitts and Nevis Right Now
What to Know About Traveling to St. Kitts and Nevis Right Now

What makes St. Kitts and Nevis different than other Caribbean destinations, and what is required for travel there now. 

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
lux cruise outlook
CP White Paper
Multi-Gen Outlook
Distribution Outlook (1)
New to Cruise Outlook
River Cruise Outlook 2019
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/tfv3DmvN5mY/0.jpg
Windstar Knows the Way to Tahiti
About Travel Market Report Mission Editorial Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News|Leisure Travel|Land Vacations|Cruise|Canada Retail Strategies|Well-Being|Luxury|Training
© 2005 - 2022 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy