Etihad uses mangroves for every economy seat booked

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has pledged to use mangroves on behalf of every guest booking an economy class seat, ensuring that every “Space” seat sold is ultimately carbon neutral.

The initiative follows the launch of Etihad Forests, Etihad’s campaign to promote biodiversity, wildlife and environmental protection through a network of mangroves and other forests established in Abu Dhabi and around the world.

Launched in February 2022, Etihad Mangroves aims to plant 182,000 mangroves in Abu Dhabi by the first quarter of 2023, followed by plans to plant new forests in international destinations in the next phase. Mangroves absorb four times more carbon dioxide from the air than other tropical forests, help combat the effects of climate change such as coral bleaching and coastline degradation, and support biodiversity and wildlife as fish, birds and other creatures thrive Critical habitat wildlife.

Through the programme, Etihad Airways will plant a mangrove for every economy seat purchased on any Etihad Airways flight. Each mangrove tree planted alone will absorb up to 250 kilograms of carbon dioxide over its lifetime – the same amount produced by an eight-hour flight.

Mariam Al Qubaisi, Head of Group Sustainability at Etihad Airways, said: “In addition to our own sustainability ambitions, we are committed to helping our passengers and partners travel more sustainably and enabling them to Choose wisely. With the latest development of our sustainability program, planting mangroves on behalf of every guest booking an economy seat, we are simplifying the process so anyone can travel sustainably.

“The Etihad mangroves are a key initiative in our sustainability journey to ensure progress is being made in our responsibility to remove carbon from the atmosphere. The aim is to create forests on all continents we fly to and Offer our guests the opportunity to engage with the solution.”

Every guest booking an Economy seat will receive confirmation of their Mangrove in the Etihad Forest within 10 days of their flight. Through an email link, guests can track, virtually visit, view photos of the tree and other details, confirming the carbon offsets for their most recent trip.

Guests have the option to register their claimed tree so they can easily revisit their tree at a later date. Through the platform’s app, Etihad guests can “chat” with their chatbot-enabled trees, while also being able to track each tree using satellite maps and access data, including CO2 consumption metrics that can be tracked.

The Economy Room offers generous legroom and more room to relax. It is only available on Etihad-operated flights and guests can book an Economy class seat when booking their ticket or anytime before check-in. Economy class seats can be booked online at etihad.com under Manage My Booking during check-in, or at the airport. Etihad VIP Platinum members can book Economy Class seats for free, or save 50% as an Etihad VIP Gold member.

Passengers in other cabins can also use Etihad Premier miles in the Rewards Store to participate in the Etihad Forest programme, while a range of additional options are available to meet corporate partner requirements and bundled offset options are available through the Corporate Awareness Choice programme.

Under Abu Dhabi Environment’s Abu Dhabi Mangroves Initiative, Etihad Mangroves is a partnership between Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi Environment, Jubail Island, The Storey Group and other partners to support Abu Dhabi The culmination of several joint programmes under the Dhabi Region Mangrove Conservation Project. Nation and development of new carbon sinks and natural resources to remove carbon from the atmosphere in accordance with our ‘World Abu Dhabi’ principles. – arab trade news agency