Silver Spring, Maryland: Penton Media’s Air Transport World today announced the winners of its inaugural ATW 2012 Eco-Aviation Awards.
Winners were selected by ATW’s team of Editors. They are:
Silver Spring, Maryland: Penton Media’s Air Transport World today announced the winners of its inaugural ATW 2012 Eco-Aviation Awards.
Winners were selected by ATW’s team of Editors. They are:
Gold Eco-Airline of the Year: Lufthansa Group. Lufthansa’s breadth and depth of environmental efforts across the entire company made it stand out as this year’s Eco-Airline Gold winner. The airline’s dedication to fuel-efficiency, which is achieved through an ongoing investment in fleet modernization, including adding the Airbus A380 and new Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental to the fleet, and the development of a more effective flight-route planning solution; humanitarian relief that provides aid to communities struck by natural disasters and supports protection of endangered species; and vital umbrella support from senior-level management via Lufthansa’s cross-departmental Sustainability Board, caught the editors’ attention. Also noteworthy was Lufthansa’s long-term research program conducted through the latter half of 2011 in which it assigned an Airbus A321 to fly routine, eight-times daily scheduled flights between Hamburg and Frankfurt using biofuel in one of its two engines. The burnFAIR project demonstrated that fuel burn was slightly less than with conventional jet fuel, but even more importantly established the principle of biofuel’s technological suitability for routine airline operations.
“Lufthansa’s comprehensive environmental and sustainability efforts touch nearly every corner of the airline, and in many cases influence the entire industry. For example, the unprecedented long-term biofuel study that Lufthansa concluded in January will no doubt benefit the entire industry,” ATW Executive Editor Karen Walker said.
Silver Eco-Airline of the Year: FedEx Express. An operating company of FedEx Corporation,FedEx’s approach to minimizing its impact on the environment is both comprehensive and innovative. The company’s EarthSmart program aims to find or create new ways not only to improve its own environmental performance, but also to point the way for other companies, in the aviation and logistics industries and beyond. Through myriad efforts from optimized flight planning routes to the introduction of new fuel efficient and lower emission aircraft to the building of solar-powered ground facilities and even the creation of a building with a vegetated roof, FedEx is committed to reducing its carbon footprint across every part of its operations. Its 20 by 20 program has the goal of reducing aircraft emission by 20% by 2020. To date, FedEx has achieved a 13.8% reduction.
Eco-Pioneer of the Year: Southwest Airlines. Since its launch, Southwest has always approached business differently from other airlines and its focus on efficiency made it an eco-pioneer long before environmentally-sound business practices were understood or recognized. Southwest’s newest product, Evolve, is an all-new eco-friendly, cost-efficient cabin interior that emphasizes comfort and personal space. Southwest launched the Green Plane to test the latest sustainable products onboard an aircraft and Evolve interior incorporates many elements of the Green Plane test.
Eco-Airport of the Year: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. In 2011, DFW Airport used87 million kilowatt-hours of electricity from renewable wind energy resulting in a reduction of over 52,000 metric tons of GHGs. In addition to using renewable energy technology, DFW retrofitted its Central Utility Plant to reduce direct emissions of GHGs by over 50% in the past decade.
Eco-Partnership of the Year: Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest (SAFN) project. This joint program brings together Alaska Airlines, Boeing, the Ports of Portland and Seattle, Spokane International Airport and the Washington State University in a unique and pioneering effort, the first such regional program in the US, to identify safe, sustainable, low-carbon resources to power the next generation of flight.
Eco-Technology of the Year: Pratt & Whitney. Pratt & Whitney’s patented EcoPower jet engine washing system is certified under the Verified Carbon Standard, the world’s most renowned voluntary CO2 offset agency. The certification program took Pratt & Whitney 2.5 years to complete due to the intensity of requirements under the Verified Carbon Standard. Pratt & Whitney now has the ability to certify the CO2 savings directly related to the fuel burn reduction, which is a result of regular EcoPower jet engine washing. The first ever aviation-related CO2 certified offsets were awarded in a ceremony on February 13 to Hawaiian Airlines.
“The number of entries and standard of submissions was very high, illustrating the seriousness and dedication with which the world’s airlines, airports and aerospace companies approach their environmental responsibilities and their dedication to pursuing more efficient operations and business practices that will ensure the future of ecologically-sound aviation travel,” ATW Publisher Bill Freeman said. “We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of our first-ever Eco-Aviation Award winners in June.”
ATW Editors will present the awards on June 21 at a dinner ceremony following the ATW Fifth Annual Eco-Aviation Conference at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel from June 20-21, 2012. This year’s agenda features panel discussions and engaging debates. To see the agenda with panel speakers and to register for Conference, please visit Conference.ATWOnline.com.
About Air Transport World
Air Transport World (www.ATWOnline.com) is the leading monthly magazine serving the airline and commercial aircraft manufacturing and support industries. Penton Media publishes ATW.
About Penton Media
As a leading, independent, business-to-business media company, Penton knows business and how to create and disseminate the vital content that moves markets. Penton is where professionals turn to gain the critical insight, expert analysis, and relevant connections needed to compete and succeed. Headquartered in New York City, the privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its co-investors. For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit www.penton.com.