JetBlue calculates its greenhouse gas emissions intensity as a ratio of metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per 1,000 revenue ton miles (the weight in tons of revenue customer and cargo traffic transported multiplied by miles flown). This ratio remained flat 2013 over 2012 at 1.65 metric tons CO2e/1,000 RTM while increasing departures by 6.6%, and the company remains focused on making airline operations more efficient to further improve this metric.
"Having one of the youngest, most fuel-efficient fleets in the industry certainly helps," said James Hnat, JetBlue's Executive Vice President & General Counsel. "But we aren't depending solely on our average fleet age to reduce our impact to the environment. We are bringing new Airbus A321 aircraft on board, which are more efficient aircraft to operate, and we are installing Sharklets on our A320 fleet to improve their fuel efficiency. Beyond what we can control JetBlue remains highly engaged in the FAA's NextGen project, strongly advocating the nation's leaders to harness airspace efficiencies technology can offer."
JetBlue has adopted the International Air Transport Association (IATA) greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, including the goal to improve fuel efficiency by an average of 1.5% per year from 2009 to 2020. JetBlue has averaged a 0.86% per year improvement since 2009, and remains committed to capping aviation CO2emissions in 2020.
JetBlue significantly expanded the detail and depth of its Responsibility Report with this edition, using the Global Reporting Initiative's G4 disclosure guidelines, the new and rigorous framework. JetBlue reported on corporate social responsibility efforts, including the launch of the JetBlue Foundation, and projects such as a new onboard recycling program and composting efforts at the airline's main base of operations at JFK International Airport in New York.
"JetBlue takes its responsibility as a corporate citizen seriously," said Sophia Mendelsohn, JetBlue's Head of Sustainability. "We need to raise awareness of the global challenges our industry faces, and be prepared for those contingencies. As an airline, we are especially impacted when it comes to extreme weather. It affects our business, causes disruptions and rightfully frustrates our customers and crewmembers when they can't get where they need to be. The potential impact to JetBlue of sea levels rising as a result of climate change is disproportional to our competitors; many of our BlueCities, including our hometown of New York City, are located on coastlines or in the Caribbean. In addition to committing to industry targets for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, you can also expect JetBlue to play a larger role in increasing visibility on how climate change affects JetBlue and our industry."
To learn more about JetBlue's long-term responsibility platform and to view the full report, visit www.jetblue.com/green.