Airlines and offsetting schemes

Carbon offsetting programmes are becoming increasingly common. Major airlines already running such schemes include British Airways, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Delta and SAS.

Did you know?

• A passenger’s offset payment is based on the carbon footprint of their flight, the money going to emission-reducing projects.
• Some carriers have mandatory charges, others make it entirely voluntary, while a middle-ground is making the payment an opt-out decision.
• Silverjet has stated that if the industry was to charge its customers just $1.8 (90p) for each hour they fly on average, the carbon pollution created by the aviation industry could be neutralised.

What are we doing?

• British Airways was the first airline to develop an offsetting service and has recently overseen a comprehensive overhaul of its carbon offsetting scheme.
• British Airways has also takes part in the UK Government's carbon trading scheme and reports, as a result, it has reduced its C02 emissions on domestic flights by 23%.
• New Zealand airline Pacific Blue – sister airline to Virgin Blue, which established the first government-certified carbon offset scheme – also launched a programme earlier in the year. All monies collected from the scheme will go towards Government-approved New Zealand projects to reduce carbon emissions.

What are the results?

• Jetstar, part of the Qantas Group, suggest passengers are buying into carbon offsetting. Within one week of the launch of the airline’s programme, 10% of passengers paid to offset their carbon emissions.
• The world’s first proclaimed carbon neutral airline has also arrived. Silverjet, an all-business airline, includes a mandatory carbon offset payment in its ticket price. Projects supported include one in India where solar panels are replacing kerosene burners.