BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--4AIR, which helps companies offset their emissions, use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and drive technological change, announced today that it signed its 100th client. Since 4AIR’s launch in January 2021, it has built an expansive and diverse client roster, including commercial airlines such as Southwest Airlines, fixed-based operators (FBOs) like Clay Lacy Aviation and Fontainebleau Aviation, business jet operators such as Verijet and Tradewind Aviation, original equipment manufacturers (OEM) including Embraer and GE Honda Aero Engines, among other corporate flight departments, airports and partnerships within aviation insurance.
In just two years, 4AIR has become a leader in sustainability and a trusted partner to a wide array of aviation companies, helping its clients to:
- Offset or reduce more than 2.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) through the use of verified carbon offset credits and SAF;
- Offset emissions produced by more than 550,000 flight hours or 275 million miles traveled, the equivalent of more than 11,000 trips around the world; and,
- Provide accounting and documentation for the physical and book and claim use of over 5.8 million gallons of SAF, a “drop-in” fuel made from sustainable, non-fossil sources such as animal fats and used cooking oil, including the claiming of SAF to reduce operator’s compliance obligations under certain regulatory programs.
More to Be Done
4AIR President Kennedy Ricci noted that, in just two years, many of the company’s early clients are increasing their commitments, moving to higher rating levels of the 4AIR program.
“4AIR pushes the envelope around our idea of a sustainability program. Our program begins where most others end and lays out a path for a longer-term approach to sustainability. Aviation has the opportunity to be carbon-neutral today, and our program answers the question of how to start while enabling improved and more comprehensive solutions over time,” says Ricci.
According to Ricci, SAF, in particular, is being seen as the biggest opportunity for decarbonization since it is more available now, provides some of the largest emission reduction opportunities and is a drop-in solution that can be used in ordinary aircraft without the need for special equipment or engine modifications. “The aircraft we have today will still be flying in 2050, so solutions like SAF that enable existing aircraft to decarbonize will be critical,” added Nancy Bsales, 4AIR COO.
While the price for SAF can still be high, new state and federal incentive programs, like the blender tax credits for SAF included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, are helping incentivize increased SAF adoption.
What Clients Are Saying
- “We’re the first and last impression of a flight, and, by offsetting the carbon footprint of our facility, 4AIR makes it easy for us to demonstrate to our customers that we are dedicated to being a leader in sustainable aviation,” says Oscar Le Rois, Airside Operations Director at Fontainebleau Aviation, the first fixed base operator in Florida to achieve 4AIR’s Facility Neutral rating.
- “Our focus is on providing our customers with a safe and more sustainable option when it comes to private air travel. Our fleet of fuel-efficient jets is carbon-neutral thanks to 4AIR and their easy-to-implement programs,” adds Allison Kane, Co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of Florida-based charter operator Verijet.
- “Tradewind Aviation operates to some of the most beautiful destinations in the US and the Caribbean. With the help of 4AIR, we are offsetting 100 percent of our carbon emissions, reducing our environmental impact,” adds David Zipkin, Co-founder and CMO of private charter and schedule service operator Tradewind Aviation.
4AIR Milestones
- Introduced its Regulatory Monitoring and Compliance Program in 2022, to help companies comply with government-mandated Emission Trading Schemes (ETS) and the International Civil Aviation Organizations (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA);
- Entered into a partnership with the National Aviation Transportation Association (NATA), building the first-ever standardized SAF reporting system for business aviation;
- Launched a groundbreaking program making carbon offsetting accessible to individual aircraft owners and operators under its General Aviation Sustainability Program;
- Supplied carbon footprint analysis and offsets for prominent events such as the Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz, the Corporate Jet Investor Conferences, NBAA-EBACE and NBAA-BACE; and,
- Funded groundbreaking research by the University of Cambridge to develop interactive, evidence-based tools to engage decision-makers, the aviation industry and the public about achieving Net Zero Flight, the goal of no additional climate-changing emissions from flight activity. That research was unveiled at COP27, the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference.
The growth of 4AIR comes against the backdrop of a changing industry, including managing stakeholder requests for climate-conscious initiatives, appeals from ESG advocates and changing government policies.
About 4AIR
4AIR is an aviation 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 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. For more information, visit us at www.4air.aero.
