Hawaiian Airlines Earth Day Flight to Demonstrate Green Practices

File photo by Wendy Osher.

Hawaiian Airlines plans to operate a demonstration flight on Earth Day between Auckland and Honolulu featuring seven “best practices” in operational performance that greatly reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions, according to the airline.

The practices have been outlined by the Asia and Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions (ASPIRE) group, which is made up of aviation leaders who seek to advance environmental stewardship in the industry.

ASPIRE was created in 2008 by Airservices Australia, Airways New Zealand, and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The group certified Hawaiian’s application for Friday’s ASPIRE Daily City Pair route.

The seven markers are:

• User-Preferred Routes
• Dynamic Airborne Reroute Procedures
• 30/30 Reduced Oceanic Separation
• Time-based Arrivals Management
• Arrivals Optimization
• Departures Optimization
• Surface Movement Optimization

“As Hawai’i’s flagship carrier, we remain committed to protecting our environment for future generations and reducing our carbon footprint every day and on every flight,” said Ken Rewick, Hawaiian’s vice president of flight operations. “We can do this by optimizing our existing technology and maximizing efficiency in all phases of flight. We look forward to the successful completion of ASPIRE goals on this historic and symbolic Earth Day journey and the opportunity to apply for more city-pairs in the future.”

By implementing these ASPIRE procedures on the Auckland to Honolulu route using an Airbus A330 aircraft, Hawaiian will use one percent less fuel, equal to about 1,000 pounds and 230 metric tons fewer carbon emissions annually.

The Environmental Protection Agency notes that the change is equivalent to removing 48 vehicles off the road.

In addition, Hawaiian’s fuel-efficient fleet of Airbus A330s are equipped with Trent 700 Rolls-Royce engines, netting 700 fewer tons of carbon emissions per aircraft per year.

“Airways New Zealand has delivered a number of airspace enhancements over the last eight years that contribute to the growth of sustainability in aviation,” Airways Head of Auckland Operations Tim Boyle said. “It is assisting its consumer airlines to reduce CO2 emissions more than 37,000 tons annually.

“It is encouraging that Hawaiian Airlines is taking advantage of efficiencies in our airspace. We look forward to facilitating their success by coordinating activities at Auckland Airport, and throughout air space in New Zealand and the South Pacific.”

Captain Brian Beres and First Officers Mark Langton and Eric Bethke will pilot the flight, and Dispatcher Kent Sharrar will plan the flight.