NatureAir Ranked as Top Eco-Friendly Airline

(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 30, 2009 ) San Jose, Costa Rica – NatureAir has been ranked as the most eco-friendly airline by the website AirlinePost.  The website lists NatureAir as an energy efficient airline helping to pioneer new eco-friendly technologies that make a statement. This ranking comes in response to the recent airline industry pledge to cut current aviation emissions in half by 2050. 

“Our mission at NatureAir is to help limit aviation gas emissions and we are proud to be given such a high recognition from AirlinePost for our efforts,” said Alex Khajavi, NatureAir founder and CEO.  “The aviation industry’s share of carbon emissions is rising rapidly due to the expansion of air transportation and action needs to be in place now to help protect our planet.”

The internationally recognized carbon neutral airline offsets 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions to encourage reforestation of tropical forests in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.  NatureAir purchases carbon credits from the government’s pioneering for Environmental Services Payment (EPS) program governed by the forestry department (FONAFIFO).  In addition, NatureAir fuels all ground equipment and vehicles with bio-diesel (a mix of recycled vegetable and cooking oils), collected from airline employees and local restaurants.  It’s estimated this biodegradable fuel will reduce roughly 560 tones of CO2 emissions per year.

NatureAir continues to invest in its sustainable tourism programs with a goal of reducing its emissions by an additional 2% per flown hour by 2010, and has grown 22% since 2003. 

NatureAir’s ranking was listed in AirlinePost’s October 15, 2009 article, “The 5 Most Eco-Friendly Airlines.”  See: http://www.airlinepost.com/airline-news/most-eco-friendly-airline.html
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About NatureAir
NatureAir is internationally recognized as the only airline in the world to voluntarily compensate for 100% of its carbon emissions through flight operations.  Its commitment to saving energy extends with the use of bio-diesel (recycled cooking oils) in its entire fleet of ground equipment and diesel vans. Since its inception in 2001, NatureAir has grown from flying 18,000 passengers annually to more than 140,000 in 2008.  NatureAir is the only twin-engine airline in Costa Rica with both scheduled and chartered flights, and offers 74 daily flights to 17 destinations in Costa Rica, and Panama. The World Travel & Tourism Council, Rainforest Alliance, Conde Nast Traveler and Virgin Holidays have recognized NatureAir for its sustainability efforts.  For more information visit: http://www.natureair.com  

NatureAir
         Alexi Huntley Khajavi
         506 2 299 6043
         ahuntley@natureair.com