Whether you drive a hybrid or take public transportation, it’s pretty easy to find a way to cut back on the environmental impact of your daily commute. But what if you need to fly somewhere? Airplanes emit huge amounts of carbon, one of the greenhouse gases that exacerbates global warming. Still, if you really have to get somewhere quickly — somewhere, oh, say 5,000 miles away — traveling by air is really the only choice you have.
Luckily, many of the world’s airlines (and even at least one airport) have started to offer ways for travelers to offset the inevitable carbon footprint of flying. One of the newest is Open Skies, a boutique transatlantic airline owned by British Airways that flies from New York to Paris and Amsterdam. Like some other carriers, Open Skies gives fliers the option to buy carbon emission credits on their flights. When you buy a ticket, the airline works out how much carbon dioxide will be emitted on your trip — there’s a formula for the price of emission-reducing initiatives to counter-balance the journey — and that amount is added to your flight costs. It ends up being surprisingly little: usually less than $15 each way between New York and Paris.
Open Skies’ carbon offsetting money is allocated to a United Nations-approved wind farm in Ningxia, one of the poorest regions in China. The farm not only creates and supplies electricity to the region but provides a viable source of employment for locals as well. Although the airline may earmark its money towards other projects down the line, the goal will remain (as with this one) to help improve both socio-economic conditions and the environment.
Admittedly, Open Skies doesn’t just help offset your carbon footprint; it also offers a more comfortable trans-Atlantic flight than many of its competitors. Two classes of service are offered: prem+, which comparable to a traditional business class in terms of seat sizes and entertainment, and biz, which is similar to most airlines’ first class cabins. Open Skies’ prices are substantially lower than what larger airlines charge for similar seats … but since it’s owned by British Airlines, you can still earn your frequent flier miles for international trips.
Although it’s got only two routes in place at the moment, the airline plans to introduce more destinations later this year. If you’re heading anywhere in Northern Europe, it’s definitely worth considering as an alternative to the often impersonal major carriers. And if you’re connecting to another European capital? At least try to skip a second carbon-emitting flight, and go by train instead …
For more information on Open Skies, go to www.flyopenskies.com.