JetBlue goes green – new initiatives
In Europe, environmental initiatives by airlines are a very big deal indeed. Choosing an airline to fly with is sometimes dictated by how "green" it is perceived to be.
Now, the practice is catching on over here, in North America. Consider what discount airline JetBlue is doing.
The discount airline is rolling out a program called "Jetting to Green". The idea is to offer flyers the chance to offset carbon dioxide emissions generated by their travel through a partnership with Carbonfund.org.
The carrier is also working with Airbus, Honeywell, and Aero Engines to pursue sustainable, second-generation fuels (and they don’t mean corn) for use in their growing fleet. Specifically, the companies’ joint activities will work to convert vegetation and algae-based oils into aviation fuels.
A couple of years ago it would have sounded far-fetched, but aviation experts are convinced the concepts work. Now, it’s a matter of testing them, masss-producing them and putting them in airplanes. Don’t expect algae-powered jets immediately. It’s going to take time. Some experts say five years is realistic.
To get you to pay attention to its new initiatives, JetBlue is offering flyers a chance to win some environmentally themed goodies, the foremost of which is a Toyota Prius hybrid. This is a sweepstakes. Visit www.jettingtogreensweepstakes.com for rules on how to enter. The sweepstakes runs through June 30.
© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler