Bangkok--17 Aug--Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to provide passengers with the opportunity to offset their carbon generated from flying. THAI is the first airline in Asia Pacific to join the program.
ACM Narongsak Sangapong, THAI’s Senior Executive Vice President - Corporate Secretariat and Acting President, said that following the signing of the MoU, THAI will work with IATA to implement offsets into its existing web sales structure and to identify the offset projects that will benefit from this initiative. Once set up, passengers will be able to decide whether they wish to compensate for their emissions when booking their flights on THAI website. Information about the CO2 emitted for that flight would be given, as well as information about the cost to offset that amount of CO2 and the project where the money is to be invested.
The IATA-administered industry-wide carbon offset program is a ready-made tool enabling airlines to offer their passengers the ability to compensate for their carbon emissions with contributions towards carbon reduction projects in developing countries. The IATA program Carbon emissions calculates based on a methodology developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The system utilises the efficiencies and reliability of IATA’s long-established financial systems to enable airlines and their passengers to purchase their ticket and their offset at the same time.
The IATA Carbon Offset Program only invests in UN approved Certified Emissions Reductions (CER) projects and voluntary credits which comply with the recognised Gold and or Voluntary Carbon Standards. The passenger contribution entirely goes to the sponsored project. As transparency is critical to ensure that monies collected result in reduced emissions, in this regard, the IATA offset program has been independently approved by the UK’s carbon offset quality assurance scheme.
The adoption of the IATA Carbon Offset Program reaffirms that THAI is highly committed to environmental responsibility and sets a good example of industry leadership in offerring their customers the option to offset emissions resulting from their air travel.
Press Release issued by M.L. Ajcharaporn Na Songkhla
Director of Corporate Communications
Friday, 14 August 2009 at 17.15 hrs.
International Public Relations Department
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited
Tel : (662) 545-2662 / 2663 / 1711 / 4686 / 1705 / 2720
Fax : (662) 545-3891