Bangkok--9 Mar--Thai Airways
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) together with sponsors will organize the “Thai Aviation and Environmental Workshop: Biofuels and Efficient Flight Operation” on 20 — 21 March 2012 at the Plaza Athenee Bangkok, a Royal Meridien Hotel. The workshop is set to boost awareness and gain government support for biofuels development and implementation in the aviation industry, in line with His Majesty the King’s vision on renewable energy.
Mr. Piyasvasti Amranand, President of Thai Airways International, said that the Company has moved forward in its efforts to develop and use aviation biofuels with cooperation from various organizations in the private and public sectors. To reach sustained production of biofuels for aviation in Thailand, THAI is working together with organizations and businesses such as petroleum producers, research firms, educational institutions, aircraft and engine manufacturers, and different government bodies affiliated with the aviation industry to take part in the aviation biofuels development.
The “Thai Aviation and Environmental Workshop: Biofuels and Efficient Flight Operation” will be held on 20-21 March 2012 at the Plaza Athenee Bangkok, a Royal Meridien Hotel, and serves as a platform to share knowledge about biomasses, in addition to use of technology and innovation in producing quality aviation biofuels. Furthermore, cooperation with the government will be further strengthened which supports aviation biofuels development efforts towards its long-term use and continuous demand in the future. This workshop is based on THAI’s environment conservation and green innovation concept that is an important part of its corporate social responsibility program promoting travel with THAI that is “Travel Green.” THAI’s shareholders, passengers, business partners, employees, and others will be invited to join this activity and other similar projects.
“THAI pioneered environmentally friendly travel as the first Southeast Asian air carrier to use aviation biofuels to operate ‘THAI’s First Flight with Biofuels’ flight TG8421 on 21 December 2011,” Mr. Amranand said. “This aviation biofuels flight succeeded in demonstrating the use of aviation biofuels, which will be beneficial to the environment by reducting carbon dioxide emissions. THAI succeeded in showing that biofuels may be be used in operating flights, help to reduce the greenhouse effect and global warming. On 22 December 2011, THAI operated “The First Passenger Biofuels Flight in Asia,” domestic flight TG 104 routed from Bangkok to Chiang Mai using biofuels on a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The aircraft carried passengers that entailed 84 students from three schools located in the Suvarnabhumi Airport area who traveled to the Royal Flora Expo in Chiang Mai 2011. This ‘Pah Nong Tong Fah’ activity was initiated to promote environmental and social responsibility among Thai youths and most importantly to celebrate His Majesty the King’s 84th birthday and commemorate His Majesty as the Father of Renewable Energy Development of Thailand.”
These two flights were part of THAI’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project that as a whole aimed towards increasing awareness of its “Travel Green” concept and operational processes that included electronic check-in and mobile 2D barcode boarding that effectively reduced the use of paper. This concept was also carried through to ground equipment services and inflight services that used recycled paper and eco-friendly bio-plastics. THAI also worked with Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Public Company Limited to support its biofuels efforts through air traffic control, flight operations plan and design, so that these flights operated smoothly and efficiently.
Mr. Amranand concluded that THAI’s “Travel Green” initiative focuses on maintaining a sustainable environment, which is in line with His Majesty the King’s vision on renewable energy. THAI, as the national carrier of Thailand, operated its first commercial flight using biofuels as one way to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. THAI hopes that other air carriers in the region will also choose to use aviation biofuels, a source of renewable energy, over fossil fuels, which the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has encouraged amongst its members in order to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions worldwide.