Private jet charter marketplace Victor has collaborated with Air BP and BP Target Neutral to launch a carbon offset program for operators and customers, following a trial phase that started late last year.
Over half of Victor and Air BP’s 20 biggest operator customers have already signed up to the initiative, which is successfully transitioning to a fully-fledged industry program and will be expanding further throughout 2018. The program aims to help Victor and participating aircraft operators meet industry deadlines for the reduction of environmental impact.
The volume of charter booked through Victor’s platform by operators signed up to the carbon offset programme has grown an additional 46% year-on-year over standard operator bookings. Over three quarters of Victor’s customers (78%) participating in the scheme have received quotes for flights where carbon emissions for the fuel used will be offset. Among the early adopters of the initiative is Austria’s GlobeAir, the world’s largest Cessna Citation Mustang operator.
Mike Ryan, co-founder and head of supply at Victor, said, “Victor continues to set an agenda for positive change across the private aviation industry. This program offers an instant opportunity for operators to advance their carbon reduction plans ahead of several crucial industry deadlines, whilst further validating the role of private aviation to the customer as a driver for global economic, social and cultural development. This is an important stepping stone in the journey towards a truly low carbon future.”
According to CORSIA ¬– the International Civil Aviation Organization’s global scheme for carbon offsetting and reduction – aircraft operators will need to purchase offsets for their growth in CO2 emissions above 2020 levels. The scheme launches with a voluntary period, 2021-2026, after which it becomes mandatory.
Various industry bodies within business and general aviation have acknowledged specific ICAO targets to try and achieve carbon neutral growth by 2020, make 2% improvements in fuel efficiency on average per year between now and 2020, and ensure a 50% cut in total emissions by 2050 compared to 2015 figures. Victor’s ambition is to use carbon neutral fuel for 100% of flights by 2020.
Irene Lores, general aviation sales and marketing director at Air BP, said, “At BP, we are striving to help the world address the dual challenge of meeting its need for more energy, while at the same time reducing carbon emissions. By collaborating with Victor in this new offset program we are also supporting our operator customer base in the transition to a lower carbon future.”
