Japan Airlines wins World Savers Award in airline category by Condé Nast Traveler magazine
Japan Airlines Boeing 777 Eco Jet
Mon 24 Aug 2009 – Japan Airlines (JAL) has won the best airline category in Condé Nast Traveler World Saver Awards. The awards honour travel companies from around the world for their leadership in social responsibility in five key areas: poverty alleviation, cultural and/or environmental preservation, education, wildlife conservation and health. JAL was the overall winner in the newly created airline category, ahead of Air New Zealand in second place and Costa Rican carrier Nature Air in third. The international panel of 21 judges included academics, travel industry leaders, philanthropists and environmentalists.
Condé Nast Traveler said JAL had programmes in all five areas and scored highly for its efforts following earthquakes in Indonesia and Pakistan between 2004 and 2006, in which JAL transported supplies and aide personnel. The airline was commended for slashing the weight of its planes through initiatives such as the use of lighter-weight material for in-flight items, its work and proactive research on biofuels and an ambitious goal to reduce carbon emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2010. JAL scored 81.5 points out of a possible 100 by the judges.
“Japan Airlines is extremely honoured to be spotlighted by the esteemed travel magazine for its CSR efforts,” said the airline. “Standing firm by the corporate policy to contribute to the sound development of society, Japan Airlines will continue striving for symbiosis with the world and the environment.”
