HONOLULU – February 13, 2012 - Hawaiian Airlines has earned the first-ever aviation based carbon credits, having reduced its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by nearly 22,000 metric tons over the past six years using an innovative, eco-friendly engine washing technology developed by Pratt & Whitney.
“We are proud to be the first airline to receive verified carbon credits for reducing emissions,” said Mark Dunkerley, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. “Importantly, engine washing with EcoPower® is helping us to mitigate rising fuel costs and significantly reduce Hawaiian’s carbon footprint at the same time.”
A carbon credit is a verified means of measuring the reduction of industrial CO2 emissions from the environment, with one credit equal to the removal of one ton of CO2. Hawaiian’s earning of carbon credits has been quantified and certified under the Verified Carbon Standard, the world’s leading independent standard for the measurement and verification of greenhouse gas emissions and the creation of carbon credits.
Hawaiian’s reduction of CO2 emissions using Pratt & Whitney’s patented EcoPower engine washing system has had the equivalent effect of taking 700 cars off the road annually.
In addition, since launching the program in 2005, Hawaiian’s commitment to the engine-washing system has saved the company more than 2.5 million gallons of fuel, along with an estimated 26,000 gallons of water that would have been used with traditional washing methods.
“It is appropriate that our first EcoPower customer, Hawaiian Airlines, is also the first customer to be awarded Verified Carbon Units as a result,” said Rick Deurloo, vice president, Pratt & Whitney Sales, Americas.
The EcoPower system reduces fuel burn and eliminates three pounds of CO2 for every pound of fuel saved, while also reducing engine temperatures and normal wear. It uses pure, atomized water to wash aircraft engines in a closed-loop system that filters contaminants and reuses water, eliminating potential contaminant runoff. The system is more effective and faster than traditional engine washing processes.
Hawaiian’s engine washing program is part of a broader continuous effort to mitigate high fuel costs and their impact on its customers. The company has commitments to acquire a fleet of new, more fuel efficient aircraft valued at more than $8 billion and has installed performance-enhancing winglets, lighter passenger seats and lighter service carts on its existing wide-body fleet.
Hawaiian employs a number of other measures to reduce its carbon footprint, including a variety of other fuel conservation measures, recycling of waste materials and use of renewable and biodegradable resources in onboard meal packaging and utensils.
The company is also part of an airline industry movement to support development of clean-burning alternatives to petroleum-based fuel for powering jet engines.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past seven years (2004-2010) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. In addition, consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Zagat have all ranked Hawaiian the top domestic airline offering flights to Hawaii. Hawaiian was also the nation’s highest-ranked carrier for service quality and performance in the prestigious Airline Quality Rating (AQR) study for 2008 and 2009.
Now in its 83rd year of continuous service in Hawaii, Hawaiian is the largest provider of passenger air service to Hawaii from the state’s primary visitor markets on the U.S. mainland. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawaii from more U.S. gateway cities (10) than any other airline, as well as service to Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, American Samoa, and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 150 daily jet flights between the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow updates on Twitter about Hawaiian (@HawaiianAir) and its special fare offers (@HawaiianFares), and become a fan on its Facebook page (Hawaiian Airlines).
About Verified Carbon Standard
The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) is the most widely used carbon accounting standard among projects issuing credits in the voluntary market. Founded in 2005 by the Climate Group, the International Emissions Trading Association and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, VCS has pioneered trusted and innovative tools for generating quality GHG credits. Visit http://v-c-s.org to learn more.
About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX), based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.
Learn more at: www.pw.utc.com/oemro
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