The eco-friendly way to fly
Global warming is upon us and it cannot be denied. One large factor that greatly affects the environment is carbon dioxide emissions from aircrafts. Aircraft engines produce heat, noise, and gas that contribute to global dimming. Different particles and gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, lead, and black carbon that interact among themselves and with the atmosphere are produced daily by airplanes traveling all around the globe. The airline industry is a threat to the environment.
Right now, almost all airlines are making their own effort to make it up with Mother Nature. One of the world’s biggest airlines Cathay Pacific is making its strong eco-efficiency commitment felt by using a blend of alternative jet fuel to fly its new fleet of Airbus A350-1000 aircraft home to Hong Kong. Two years ago, the airline operated the longest biofuel delivery flight. Twenty-two aircraft of this type have so far been delivered with a 10 percent blend of alternative jet fuel in their tanks. Compared to traditional jet fuel, biofuel can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent.
In the Philippines, various efforts are made by local airlines to give their fair share to the fight against environmental degradation. Just recently, Lance Gokongwei, president and CEO of Cebu Pacific Air, announced the lowcost airline’s shift to an eco-friendly inflight dining. In a statement, Lance said the airline will shift to bio-compostable cutlery made from polylactic acid (PLA) derived from cornstarch, replacing non-recyclable utensils with greener alternatives, a push for the reduction of inflight waste. This shift is announced to be effective this October 2018.
Aside from that, Cebu Pacific Air also announced its new sustainable tourism program, "Juan Effect," which pushes for green traveling and environmental protection. In partnership with the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT), and supported by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Juan Effect is Cebu Pacific’s own way of urging people to make simple pledges to help preserve the beauty of the country’s most popular island destinations. The program will work hand in hand with local stake stakeholders of select Philippine island destinations to achieve solid waste management targets, to pave the way for a more sustainable tourism industry.
Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines, recipient of the 2017 Subic Eco-Tourism Festival Award, continues its significant contribution to the development and promotion of eco-tourism and sustainable tourism practices, which help the lives of the people in various communities. Along with its continuous eco-friendly programs, PAL also makes use of industry-leading aircrafts to efficiently help preserve the environment. The new generation aircrafts from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the A321neo and the A350-900, have engines so advanced and designed for the times that they generate less noise and carbon emissions while being more fuel efficient, covering more miles while consuming less fuel. These aircrafts are equipped with fuel-saving Sharklet wingtip devices. And with the engines’ reduced carbon emission technology, the aircrafts can fly non-stop to long-haul destinations of up to 8 hours for the A321neo and up to 20 hours for the A350900 with dramatically reduced carbon footprints.