Qatar Airways has launched a voluntary carbon offset programme for its corporate and trade clients facilitated through a dedicated web portal.
The programme is built on a partnership with IATA and uses industry best practice for calculating the CO2 emissions associated with a passenger’s journey, including historic flight data covering aircraft type, load factors and class of travel.
The airline says the credits bought to offset emissions are for projects delivering independently verified carbon reductions as well as wider environmental and social benefits. Initially, emissions will be offset with a leading renewable energy project with additional verified projects to be included in the near future, said the airline.
Qatar Airways first launched a voluntary carbon offsetting programme in 2020 aimed primarily at individual passengers booking
direct with the airline. A spokesperson told BTN Europe this made it “challenging” for corporates as they are “more likely to book tickets through other avenues and in larger quantities”.
They added: “With this new corporate/trade option, corporates can easily offset emissions at any time in bulk. This is all part of Qatar Airways’ phased approach of scaling up our offsetting program to allow more stakeholders the opportunity to offset their emissions when flying with us.”
Corporates can view and track their historic emissions offsets and download offset certificates.
Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: “Building a long-term sustainable aviation industry requires coordinated efforts, and businesses play an important role in building more environmentally friendly and more sustainable air travel.
“We are happy to provide an opportunity for our corporate clients to voluntarily offset the carbon footprint of corporate trips through recognised projects that help both communities and the environment, and encourage them to make carbon offsetting part of their carbon management plan.”
The airline says it is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and, as part of the oneworld alliance, supports the ambition of the World Economic Forum's Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition of achieving 10 per cent SAF usage by 2030.