It was not that long ago when it was still a tradition to give applause when a plane landed. In a short period of time flying has become a very normal way to travel. I think you could test what kind of reactions you get when you start to clap your hands when the plane from London lands, let’s say, to Frankfurt…
But today the airline companies could be applauded for different reasons than succeeding in bringing the plane to its destination safe. I wrote here on the news last week about promises related to green flying. However, in my article I had missed the case of Nature Air from San Jos?, Costa-Rica. This is a ‘green’ airline that has now received official applauses in National Geographic’s’ Geotourism Challenge 2009. According to the airline company’s homepage, Nature Air has been the first airline to compensate for 100% of its carbon emissions from flight operations. Nature Air offsets 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions to encourage reforestation of tropical forests in southern Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity zones of the Osa Peninsula.
To date Nature Air has compensated for nearly 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide though the protection of more than 500 acres of tropical forests, offsetting more than 6,000 tons of carbon emissions each year. Nature Air’s proactive work to offset greenhouse gas emissions ensures that residents and future travelers to the country will enjoy the lush forests for years to come. The airline fuels its ground equipment and vehicles with bio-diesel (a mix of recycled vegetable or cooking oils) collected from local restaurants, and airlines’ employees. The airline has also recently helped to develop Costa Rica’s first alternative fueling station with Aerotica.
Based in San Jose, Costa Rica, Nature Air is offering 74 daily flights to 17 destinations in Costa Rica and Panama:
Nature Air offers domestic flights from San Jos? to all the major Costa Rica vacation destinations. This includes Tamarindo for fishing, surfing and scuba diving ; Quepos for Manuel Antonio National Park and La Fortuna for the Arenal volcano. We also provide international flights to Bocas del Toro, Panama. In addition, Nature Air offers a travel magazine, charter flights, canopy tours, car rental, cheap airfare finder, airport shuttle service, air cargo service, vacation packages and travel deals.
Should passengers applaud this kind of ecological responsibility? Does the compensation for carbon emissions make flying more ‘green’?
Text: Emily Hockert
Image: Charlotta Wiren