Tag Archives: Turn the Tide on Plastic – Clean Seas

Hi Fly’s “Turn the Tide on Plastic” aircraft circumnavigates the globe

Hi Fly made this announcement:

The Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 has come to an end but Hi Fly’s Airbus A330, painted under the same livery as the “Turn the Tide on Plastic” boat, is still soaring around the globe and raising ocean awareness in all four corners of the world.

Completing its 10^th month carrying the pertinent message proudly displayed on its fuselage, the aircraft has already been to all five continents flying for different company clients, operating more than 400 flights and landing in close to 40 different destinations.

Above Photo: Duarte Gomes. Arriving in Lisbon.

The countries where the “Turn the Tide on Plastic” aircraft has landed include European destinations in the UK, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria and Turkey, African countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, Nigeria, Guinee, the Congo, Senegal and Mauritius, as well as some of the world’s most paradisiac destinations such as Reunion Island, the Dominican Republic, French Polynesia, Cuba and Jamaica. The largest nations on the American continent: the USA, Canada and Brazil, as well as other countries in the Americas such as Panama and Guyana have also already received Hi Fly’s themed Airbus A330. In Asia, the “Turn the Tide on Plastic” aircraft have been to India, China, Thailand, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, the world’s largest country, Russia, and the middle eastern nations of Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Last but not least, one of the regions where the aircraft spent the most time in was the Australian continent, where it flew between Australia and New Zealand operating for Air New Zealand – the country’s flagship carrier.

Hi Fly joined the project in cooperation with Mirpuri Foundation, the founding partner of “Turn the Tide on Plastic” boat, and AkzoNobel, that provided the coating to personalize the aircraft. The Airbus A330-200 is painted on both sides, matching the “Turn the Tide on Plastic” boat – one dark blue “polluted” side and another light blue “clean” one.

With this initiative, Hi Fly is raising awareness for this unprecedented campaign to eliminate marine litter and plastic in particular, supporting the United Nations Environment’s “Clean Seas” campaign. If no action is taken, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.

This is not a stand-alone initiative; since mid-2017 Hi Fly has been putting forward a number of actions, not only to raise awareness but also to set the example and be the first airline to be completely ‘Plastic Free’ by 2019.

Hi Fly is also committed to be ‘carbon neutral’ by the same year and has just painted the company’s first A380 (see video below) in a coral themed livery alerting the public to the critical state of the world’s coral reefs. In this way, Hi Fly aims to involve and inspire the industry to become more environmentally conscious by protecting the health of our oceans, as well as of the whole planet.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Hi Fly): Hi Fly – Mirpuri Foundation – Volvo Ocean Race Airbus A330-223 CS-TQW (msn 262) (Turn the Tide on Plastic – Clean Seas) YYZ (TMK Photography). Image: 940228.

Hi Fly aircraft slide show:

Video:

Hi Fly’s two-sided “Turn the Tide on Plastic” logo jet

Hi Fly (Lisbon) has issued this statement and photos on January 11, 2018:

The message of sustainability and protection of the seas carried by the “Turn the Tide on Plastic” boat in Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 is flying high with Hi Fly. The Airbus A330 painted under the same livery of the boat has already been across the five continents spreading the word around the globe.

For the past three months, the aircraft has already been in more than 20 destinations landing in the largest country in the world – Russia as well as in small paradisiac islands such as Jamaica and Tahiti. It has been in a number of European destinations in the UK, Belgium, Portugal and Spain; African countries such as Nigeria, Guinee and Congo and the biggest nations in the American continent: USA, Canada and Brazil. The themed aircraft has inclusively been in countries such as India and China where plastic contamination and pollution in general are, in fact, a huge concern. The most recent destinations visited by the aircraft were Australia and New Zealand where coincidently the Turn the Tide on Plastic boat is heading soon.

With this initiative, Hi Fly is raising awareness for an unprecedented campaign to eliminate marine litter and plastic in particular supporting the United Nations Environment’s Clean Seas campaign.

The aircraft is painted with a strong 2 sided statement: one dark blue side symbolizing a “polluted” ocean (below), and one light blue side representing a “clean” ocean (above).

Following up on this commitment, the double-down in March 2018 with this statement:

Hi Fly has announced its pledge to completely eliminate the use of avoidable and single use plastics on its aircrafts and at its offices before the end of 2019.

The airline is committed to contributing to a more responsible and sustainable planet by fighting against the very important issue that is plastic pollution. The company is actively implementing and promoting good practices in its business. This is a commitment that will position Hi Fly as the first plastic-free airline in the world.

According to Hi Fly President Paulo Mirpuri, “up until now, human beings have believed the ocean is an inexhaustible source of food and pleasure as well as a limitless garbage dump. The reality however, is that the ocean has its limits, and they are very close to being reached. We can no longer ignore the impact plastic contamination has on ecosystems, as well as on human health.”

Since the summer of 2017 the airline has been putting forward a number of initiatives aimed at raising awareness and fighting against the single use of plastic. The airline painted one of its Airbus A330, which is now flying all over the world, with the message “Turn the Tide on Plastic” in support of the United Nations “Clean Seas” campaign. The same livery and message is simultaneously carried by the Mirpuri Foundation Volvo Ocean Race boat. The aircraft and boat both feature a side in a dark blue overlaid with images representing “pollution” while the other side is painted in a lighter blue representing a cleaner, pristine ocean. Through this initiative, Hi Fly is raising awareness with an unprecedented campaign to eliminate marine litter and plastic from our oceans.

Internally, action has also been taken to adjust procedures and involve the company’s employees in the campaign. As explained by Paulo Mirpuri “We started off with small initiatives such as installing water stations throughout our headquarters and other facilities, and distributing reusable water bottles to our employees. We’ve now been moving towards implementing new measures and processes that completely remove the use of plastic in all possible ways.”

Paulo Mirpuri is currently in New Zealand to attend the Volvo Ocean Race Auckland stopover representing Hi Fly and the Mirpuri Foundation, a non-profit organization which he also heads. The Foundation is the Volvo Ocean Race’s principal sustainability partner and proud sponsor of the “Turn the Tide on Plastic” team and boat.

The Turn the Tide on Plastic aircraft will continue to operate worldwide while the boat crosses the five oceans amplifying the message and the reach of the campaign in both the seas and the skies.

Hi Fly is an airline specialized in wet lease, EU – OPS carrier, FAA approved, EASA and IOSA certified. Hi Fly operates a large fleet of Airbus A330’s and A340’s, exclusively available for wet lease worldwide. Wet leasing (supply of aircraft with crew, maintenance and insurance) is Hi Fly’s core business, and has been developed with unmatched operational expertise over a decade of experience.

Photo credits: Leonardo Sanchez