LATAM boosted fuel efficiency in ‘2015 Sustainability Report’

In an industry with a spotty environmental track record, to say the least, LATAM Airlines is apparently headed the right direction, based on its “2015 Sustainability Report,” published late last week.

Over the course of 2015, LATAM was able to cut fuel consumption by 38.4 million gallons of jet fuel, equivalent to a 366,500-metric-tonne decrease in CO2 emissions. The airline also spent its second year on the Dow Jones World Sustainability Index, and became the first airline group in the Americas to complete the “Stage 2″ certification of the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA). Below are other ways the airline was able to reduce its ecological footprint:

• Since 2012, the group has improved its fuel efficiency by an average of 2.5 percent per year.
• LATAM has reduced the noise levels by moving to quieter, more efficient aircraft – such as the 787 and A350. These jets generate up to 40 percent less noise than similar models.
• LATAM Airlines transported 302.6 metric tons of recyclable waste from Easter Island, the remotest island on Earth, located 3,700 kilometers off the coast of South America.

“LATAM Airlines Group not only has a responsibility to operate in an efficient and sustainable manner, but also to set an example, by meeting and exceeding the highest international standards,” said Enrique Cueto, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group. With air cargo running an exponentially higher carbon footprint than its tertiary alternatives, Cueto’s sentiments are welcome news.