Qantas Airways Announces Plan to Become Green

Filed in archive Aviation Travel on September 19, 2007

Green is in. Everyone from the travel industry to grocery stores to the Emmy's are looking for ways to save the planet and become more environmentally conscious. And the airlines is no exception.

On Wednesday Australia's Qantas Airways (often noted as one of the best airlines in the world) announced a plan to offset carbon dioxide emissions. If you know a thing or two about being green, carbon dioxide emissions is a major concern. It looks like Qantas is continuing to separate themselves from the competition.

The scheme allows travelers to calculate the per-passenger emissions of their flights and buy carbon dioxide credits that would be paid to a variety of environmental projects, the airline said in a statement.

A flight from Australia to Los Angeles generates around 1.4 tons of greenhouse gases per passenger, which the airline says can be offset by paying just 17 Australian dollars ($14.50; 10.46 euros) per flight.

The money would be spent on government-approved carbon dioxide Abatement schemes, including grants for renewable energy sources, tree-planting projects and improvements to energy efficiency.

The aviation industry accounts for about 2 percent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions and has come under increasing pressure from environmental campaigners.

Qantas and Jetstar are the latest airlines to join the rush to improve their green credentials. Australia's second-largest carrier, Virgin Blue, launched a similar program earlier this year.