American Airlines commits to Earth Day all year 'round

With an estimated 500 million people around the world will observing “Earth Day”, it is just another day at the office for American Airlines, which has been actively involved in reducing its impact on the environment and in promoting green initiatives for years.

American Airline’s biggest environmental footprint is left by its most obviously visible asset: the aircrafts it flies. This spring, American begins flying the first of 76 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft the airline will be adding to its fleet over the next two years – a model which burns about 28 percent less fuel per mile than the aircraft it is replacing, reducing emissions by 35 percent per seat mile.

“Our mission to safely bring people together and to move goods quickly requires a lot of energy,” says Peggy Sterling, American’s Vice President – Safety, Security and Environmental. “We recognize our duty to reduce emissions, to conserve resources, and to behave in ways that lessen our impact on the earth.”

A “Fuel Smart” fuel conservation program started at the airline in 2005 has also had a positive effect at American and in the communities the airline serves. Fuel Smart initiatives are now saving American 111 million gallons of fuel annually, which will help the airline reduce CO2 emissions by 2.3 billion pounds.

Water treatment and conservation has also been an important area, particularly at the airline’s large maintenance bases. In Tulsa, Okla., a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant sends treated water safely into the municipal sewer system. In Fort Worth, Texas, American won its fifth Pollution Prevention Award from the city for reducing the use of solvents and enhancing boilers to reduce pollutants.

Recently, American became the first major airline to join the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Climate Leaders” program. Climate Leaders is a collaboration of business and the EPA to develop comprehensive climate-change strategies. Members commit to reduce their impact on the environment by setting greenhouse gas reduction goals and then report their progress to the EPA annually. American has committed to a 30 percent reduction in its greenhouse gas intensity ratio by 2025.

“Our decision to join the Climate Leaders program is the latest step in a long-standing commitment by American Airlines to help safeguard Earth’s environment,” says Sterling. “We will not waiver in our commitment to reduce our impact on the environment.”

American publishes an Environmental Responsibility Report on the airline’s website, www.aa.com.