Alaska Air Group (Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air (Seattle/Tacoma) has issued is Third Annual Sustainability Report for 2014 where it has decreased its emissions by 30 percent over the past 10 years. Here is the statement:
Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, has reduced its mainline flying emissions intensity by one-third over the last 10 years through fleet advancements and flight technology. These advances have avoided burning 531 million gallons of fuel since 2004 — the equivalent of taking one million cars off the road for a year.
Additionally, Air Group reported record financial results, enabling it to invest in local communities and strengthen the long-term future of its workforce.
This is among a series of goals and accomplishments highlighted in Alaska Air Group’s newly-released 2014 Sustainability Report, which summarizes the company’s progress on environmental, social and economic goals. The complete report is available online at www.alaskaair.com/sustainability.
“Beyond our basic commitment as a company to provide safe, reliable and affordable transportation, we are focused on ensuring our business goals are in balance with the needs of our communities,” said Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden. “We have made great strides in the last year to embed sustainability into every level of our business.”
Above: Alaska Airlines. The keys to the 2020 Sustainability Strategy.
Below are highlights of the airline’s accomplishments in 2014:
Planet
2,200 tons of material was collected for recycling inflight (enough plastic bottles to re-carpet Portland International Airport 29 times–#pdxcarpet)
47 Boeing 737 jets received new winglets, reducing emissions by 500 metric tons per aircraft per year (equivalent to driving around the earth 2,329 times)
Over 200 new electric vehicles were installed at Sea-Tac Airport, nearly doubling Air Group’s electric ground service fleet
Although Air Group’s total emissions increased from 2013 to 2014 as the airline’s traffic increased 6.5 percent, its emissions intensity decreased by 2 percent (as measured per revenue passenger mile).
People
The average wage of Air Group’s more than 13,000 employees ($69,044) is 23 percent higher than the regional average
82 percent of employees reported overall positive engagement, up from 79 percent in 2013
Over $9.6 million donated by Air Group, supporting more than 1,300 community organizations
Performance
16 new routes added, while still lowering non-fuel unit costs by 1.3 percent
Alaska is one of only two U.S. airlines with investment grade credit ratings
Copyright Photo below: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com (all other images by Alaska Airlines). Boeing 737-890 N581AS (msn 35188) arrives at Anchorage.
Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show: 
