4AIR Partners with Flexjet to Offset Climate-Changing Emissions from Its Flights in Europe and the United States
Flexjet purchases carbon credits through 4AIR to offset the emissions from its flight activity, at no cost to Flexjet customers
Becomes largest private aviation operator to achieve a Carbon Neutral Rating
4AIR’s program in Europe conforms with higher regional emission reduction targets
BOSTON, May 21, 2021 – 4AIR, the first and only rating system focused on comprehensive sustainability in private aviation, is partnering with Flexjet, a global leader in private jet travel, to offset aircraft emissions that contribute to climate change. As part of its commitment to sustainability, Flexjet is working with 4AIR to purchase – at no cost to its fractional customers – verified carbon credits that support solar, wind and other projects to offset the emissions from its flights.
In the US, Flexjet has been purchasing verified carbon credits since January 2021 that will offset the impact of 100 percent of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated by its aircraft operations.
In Europe, Flexjet is offsetting not only the CO2 emissions from its flight operations but also emissions of other pollutants that contribute to climate change, such as water vapor, aerosol sulphate and nitrous oxides. In order to account for both CO2 and the other pollutants, Flexjet will purchase carbon credits equal to 300 percent of CO2 emissions.
The higher standard in Europe, offsetting not just CO2 but also other pollutants, is consistent with the more rigorous regulatory and policy commitments to sustainability in Europe.
“The industry-leading verified offsets purchased on Flexjet’s behalf support several projects including solar, wind and forestry initiatives,” said 4AIR President Kennedy Ricci. “Flexjet customers can travel with peace of mind knowing the environmental impact of their flight activity is offset through projects that reduce carbon emissions elsewhere, and also improve economic outcomes for citizens of the countries hosting the projects.”
4AIR is supporting Flexjet in managing the offsets, standards, verification, validation and retirement of carbon credits through highly respected domestic and international leading bodies that issue and register credits. The company will also verify Flexjet’s flight activity, calculate the emissions based on fuel use and then purchase credits to fund real-world projects that reduce carbon emissions globally, including renewable energy, the enhancement of carbon-absorbing forests and projects that provide long-term social, community and economic development. The credits are verified through respected organizations that issue and register carbon credits, such as Verified Carbon Standard (VERRA) and The Gold Standard.
Flexjet Chief Executive Officer Mike Silvestro said, “Since its founding, Flexjet has brought innovation to its aircraft, its technology and its operations. We are proud to bring this same spirit to our flight program, reducing aviation’s impact on the climate.”
In both the US and Europe, Flexjet customers have the option of upgrading their commitment to sustainability by purchasing additional credits or using sustainable aviation fuels to actually reduce – and not just offset – emissions of CO2 and other pollutants. 4AIR will be facilitating the procurement and documentation of the sustainable aviation fuel purchases through an internal book and claim program on the Flexjet fleet. This enables Flexjet customers to claim credit for the use of sustainable aviation fuel on their flight even if their trip does not visit an airport with a physical supply of SAF. It also enables Flexjet customers to use fuel with the maximum sustainability benefit without geographical limitation.
The 4AIR rating framework offers benchmarks that are aligned with industrywide carbon reduction goals and consistent with international standards. The framework offers various levels, each with specific, science-based goals, independently verified results and progressively greater impacts on sustainability.
For 2021, Flexjet has committed to the 4AIR Bronze level in the US, under which its flight operations will be carbon-neutral by offsetting all of its CO2 emissions with verified carbon offset credits. In Europe, Flexjet has committed to the 4AIR Silver level, which offsets emissions not only from CO2 but also other pollutants such as water vapor, aerosol sulphate and nitrous oxides.
About the 4AIR Rating Program
The 4AIR Rating – the first and only rating system focused on comprehensive sustainability in private aviation, taking you beyond carbon neutrality – offers understandable benchmarks that are aligned with industrywide goals and consistent with international standards. This allows private aviation users to evaluate the comprehensiveness of their own sustainability program or that of the private aviation sustainability programs available on the market. 4AIR’s framework offers four increasingly progressive levels:
4AIR Level 1 (Bronze): Carbon-Neutral
4AIR Level 1 allows participants to be carbon-neutral by offsetting all of their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions with verified carbon offset credits.
4AIR Level 2 (Silver): Emissions-Neutral
Two-thirds of an aircraft’s environmental impact comes from non-carbon dioxide warming pollutants such as water vapor, soot and contrails. 4AIR Level 2 enables participants to be fully emissions-neutral, compensating for non-CO2 impacts with verified offsets.
4AIR Level 3 (Gold): Emissions Reduction
4AIR Level 3 allows participants to go beyond emissions neutrality to actually reducing emissions by at least 5 percent through solutions such as using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) or purchasing SAF credits through 4AIR.
4AIR Level 4 (Platinum): Climate Champion
4AIR Level 4 allows participants to support new technologies in aviation with a contribution to the Aviation Climate Fund, aimed at supporting research and development in aviation sustainability.
If a private aviation entity or user does not have a sustainability program or would like to enhance their current efforts, they can opt into a 4AIR level. From there, 4AIR aligns flight activity with the necessary carbon offsets, Sustainable Aviation Fuel purchases/credits or impact investments called for as part of each level.
About 4AIR
4AIR is an industry pioneer offering sustainability solutions beyond just simple carbon neutrality. Its industry-first framework seeks to address climate impacts of all types and provides a simplified and verifiable path for private aviation industry participants to achieve meaningful aircraft emissions counteraction and reduction.
The 4AIR framework offers four levels, each with specific, science-based goals, independently verified results and progressively greater impacts on sustainability that make it easy for private aviation users to pursue sustainability through access to carbon markets, use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, support for new technologies and other strategies.
All carbon credits through 4AIR are quantified and verified through the most respected and international leading bodies that issue and register credits, including the American Carbon Registry, Climate Action Reserve, Verified Carbon Standard (VERRA) and The Gold Standard. Additionally, end-of-year commitment audits are independently verified by third parties. 4AIR also serves the demand signal working groups with the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition.
For more information, visit us at www.4air.aero.
About Flexjet
Flexjet first entered the fractional jet ownership market in 1995. Flexjet offers fractional jet ownership and leasing. Flexjet’s fractional aircraft program is the first in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standard, is the first and only company to be honored with 22 FAA Diamond Awards for Excellence, upholds an ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating and is IS-BAO compliant at Level 2. Flexjet’s fractional program fields an exclusive array of business aircraft—some of the youngest in the fractional jet industry, with an average age of approximately six years. In 2015, Flexjet introduced Red Label by Flexjet, which features the youngest fleet in the industry, flight crews dedicated to a single aircraft and the LXi Cabin Collection of interiors. To date there are more than 40 different interior designs across its fleet, which includes the Embraer Phenom 300, Legacy 450 and Praetor 500, Bombardier Challenger 350, the Gulfstream G450, G500, G650 and G700, and the Aerion AS2 supersonic business jets. Flexjet’s European fleet includes the Embraer Praetor 600 and Legacy 500. Flexjet is a member of the Directional Aviation family of companies. For more details on innovative programs and flexible offerings, visit www.flexjet.com or follow us on Twitter @Flexjet and on Instagram @FlexjetLLC.
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Media Contact:
Erin Daigle
The Hubbell Group, Inc.
Mobile: 781-815-2827
Email: edaigle@hubbellgroup.com