By Charlotte Seet
VistaJet Pledging Carbon Neutrality by 2025
Global private jet operator VistaJet is committing to carbon neutrality by 2025, racing ahead by a quarter century as compared to aviation industry goals trying to target net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The airline also spearheaded the call for better change by not only working with, but also pushing the aviation industry to go beyond the current target of a 50% reduction set by civil aviation industry bodies, IATA, and the business aviation community worldwide.
With the pledge announcement made on Tuesday, it will serve as a blueprint for other companies within Vista Global, as it holds an important minority stake in three of the sixteen largest U.S charter operators – Red Wing Aviation, Talon Air and XOJET Aviation – with the addition of owning outright mega-charter brokers Apollo Jets and XO Global.
“Aviation plays a crucial role in driving the global economy as well as connecting people and countries around the world. While it is impossible to imagine a world without air mobility, and as travel continues to be a necessity for many companies – particularly to redevelop their businesses post-pandemic – we must make every effort to simultaneously protect our environment,” VistaJet said.
In 2020, over 80% of VistaJet members managed to offset CO2 emissions relative to their flights’ fuel consumption in partnership with South Pole, an award-winning project developer and global provider of climate action solutions.
By offering its clients a way to compensate for the negative impact of their carbon footprint, VistaJet is supporting an industry-wide push for a greener and more sustainable recover and to channel importance finances to projects that can help to reduce emissions and improve livelihoods.
VistaJet has also partnered with SkyNRG, a pioneer and global leader in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), to be the first to provide worldwide access to SAF for business aviation.
Amongst other products, VistaJet introduced the Global 7500 as well, which will be the first business jet with an Environmental Product Declaration. This new product comes from the airline having added twenty-two new fuel-efficient business jets from Canadian manufacturer Bombardier for the new two years.
The airline also introduced new innovations such as optimized routes that help to reduce fuel burn; there were also the hefty investments in artificial intelligence technology for optimized fleet management; the sustainability conversation and raising awareness among its clients and the aviation industry as a whole.
For clients, VistaJet is encouraging earlier booking with at least a weeks notice to enable the airline to better manage fleet movement with reduced plane repositioning. VistaJet members will also get better discounts on their hourly rates as an incentive.
While offsets and sustainable aviation fuels are the currently only available options to reduce carbon footprints, VistaJet, together with its clients, partners and the industry, will continue to actively seek and invest in improved developments to help push the boundaries even further.
Between now and 2025, VistaJet will look towards new technological innovations to further reduce its GHG footprint in line with the latest available science, to become the first carbon neutral business aviation operating company by 2025.
“Since the inception of VistaJet 17 years ago, we have always looked to the future, innovating and driving change within our industry,” Thomas Flohr, Founder and Chairman of VistaJet said. “The industry as a whole must step up to combat climate change and its impact today – it’s the right thing to do and we all have to act now.”
Fascinated by aircraft from a very young age, Charlotte’s dream was to work alongside the big birds one day. Pursuing her dream, she went on to achieve her diploma in Aviation Management and is currently working on her degree in Aviation Business in Administration with a minor in Air Traffic Management. When she’s not busy with school assignments, you can find her aircraft spotting for long hours at the airport. In Charlotte’s heart, the Queen of the Skies will always be her favorite aircraft.
