National carrier South African Airways (SAA) has become one of the first airlines in Africa and one of six in the world to achieve International Air Transport Association (IATA) environmental assessment Stage 1 status.
SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said in a statement that the aim behind the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) initiative was to create a minimum and recommended standard for airlines in areas such as general recycling, onboard recycling, efficient flight and airport operations, limiting and reducing carbon emissions, general energy efficiency as well as environmentally conscious procurement procedures.
IEnvA director Paul Steele indicated the initiative was the first environmental management system applied to the aviation sector and enabled an airline to improve its environmental management and follow best environmental practice.
“This makes SAA airline one of the world’s leading carriers in the areas of environmental responsibility and sustainability,” he noted.
The airline stated that its environmental goals included complying with applicable regulations and other requirements; striving for the most efficient operations; working towards reducing carbon footprint; as well as working towards minimising and preventing pollution.
SAA further indicated that it would also work towards industry goals, which were a cap on aviation carbon-dioxide emissions from 2020 and an average improvement in fuel efficiency of 1.5% a year from 2009 to 2020.