Air Transat becomes first North American airline to complete Stage 1 of IATA's environmental programme
George Petsikas (right), Senior Director, Government & Industry Affairs, Transat A.T., receives the airline's IEnvA certificate from IATA DG Tony Tyler
Tue 10 Jun 2014 – Canadian leisure carrier Air Transat has become the first airline in North America to complete the first stage of IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) Program. The voluntary programme is based on the core principles of compliance with environmental obligations and a commitment to continual environmental management improvement. Adopting the standard IEnvA procedures and recommended practices, says IATA, allows an airline to focus resources on improving its environmental performance rather than developing an Environmental Management System (EMS) from scratch. Air Transat joins Finnair, South African Airways, LAN, LAN Cargo, Malaysia Airlines and Kenya Airways as the only airlines so far to have achieved Stage 1 certification.
The programme follows a two-stage implementation approach which involves a detailed assessment of flight operations, corporate and management activities that allows for early recognition of environmental management achievements.
The criteria for IEnvA certification are taken from a combination of recognised EMS standards, including ISO 14001, as well as the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO). As well as being compatible with other EMS systems, the programme is designed to have an expandable scope with additional modules for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and Ground Operations.
To address industry needs and specific concerns, the guidelines were developed by a team of environmental consultants in conjunction with airlines, including Air Transat. Overseen by an advisory group of 14 airlines, the programme aims to continuously update standards to reflect regulatory revision and environmental best practices. Assessments are conducted by independent accredited Environmental Assessment Organisations that have demonstrated competencies in EMS auditing.
“Environmentally speaking, Air Transat is leading the way and with this new environmental certification we are once again joining the ranks of airlines that put their philosophy into practice,” commented Jean-François Lemay, the airline’s General Manager. “The ecological management of operations has been in Air Transat’s DNA for years and passengers who fly with us are making a responsible choice. IEnvA certification is added proof of our formal and continuous commitment to becoming one of the world’s greenest airlines.”
