United Airlines Launches Carbon Offset Program

United Airlines has launched a carbon offset program designed to give customers the opportunity to help protect the environment by supporting renewable energy and reforestation projects.

This program complements United’s existing efforts to reduce its impact on the environment through meaningful and sustainable actions in the air and on the ground. United’s environmental initiatives include fleet enhancements, an EcoPower engine wash system, and alternative fuel vehicles in United’s ground support equipment.

United was the only U.S. carrier to participate in last year’s environmental program, ASPIRE, using 11 fuel-savings initiatives in a single flight to save more than 32,000 pounds of carbon emissions. United also trains flight crews in key fuel conservation principles and in the implementation of a more efficient flight planning management process.

Along with Conservation International and in partnership with Sustainable Travel International (STI), United has developed a carbon calculator that determines a customer’s carbon footprint for air travel based on actual United routes, planes utilized, load factors and fuel usage.