Costa Rica Airline and Hotels Are World Savers, According to Condé Nast Traveler

[Claire Saylor]

The world’s first carbon neutral airline, Nature Air, has been named the
Overall Winner in Conde Nast Traveler’s World Savers Awards in the
airline category. Among 32 honorees chosen from 164 applicants for the
prestigious award, Nature Air was recognized as an industry leader in
addressing issues of global poverty, health, education and environmental
depredation.


The Costa Rica-based airline was
acknowledged for comprehensive efforts to compensate for its carbon
emissions and social initiatives to promote education and the general
welfare in the regions they operate.


“Our efforts are aimed at raising the
standard of living in the destinations we fly to, while offering an
exceptional experience to our passengers” said Alex Khajavi, Founder and
CEO of Nature Air. “Awards like World Savers help confirm that we are
on the right track, and strengthen a growing community of socially
responsible industry pioneers that are on the same path.”


Nature Air offsets 100 percent of its
greenhouse gas emissions by subsidizing reforestation and conservation
of tropical forests in Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula. Nature Air purchases
carbon credits from the government’s National Forestry Financing Fund
(FONAFIFO), run by the Ministry of the Environment (MINAET). In
addition, Nature Air fuels all ground equipment and vehicles with
bio-diesel (a mix of recycled vegetable and cooking oils), collected
from airline employees and local restaurants. It’s estimated this
biodegradable fuel will reduce roughly 560 tons of CO2 emissions per
year.


Nature Air also funds a social and
educational initiative called the Nature Kids Foundation. Nature Kids
aims to provide English education to the communities Nature Air serves.
The program has developed two schools, one in Santa Ana and the other in
Drake Bay, with the goal of expanding to the rest of the airline's main
destinations. Nature Kids' students range from elementary age to
adults. They learn practical English skills for educational advancement
and application in the tourism industry, which dominates regional
economies where the schools are located.


While some members of the tourism
industry have battled tough economic times, Nature Air has continued to
grow through eco-friendly cost-cutting strategies. Nature Air continues
to invest in its sustainable tourism programs and has increased profits
by 22% since 2003.


Alex Khajavi has been invited to speak
on a guest panel at the 2010 CNT World Savers Congress on Oct. 20 in
Singapore along with representatives from fellow winners: Abercrombie
& Kent, Royal Caribbean, Grand Hyatt, and the small Costa Rican
hotel chain Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality. He, along with other
honorees of the World Savers, will introduce to the heads of the tourism
industry – collectively the world's largest industry at $7 trillion in
revenue this year – a range of resources to help them implement more
effective and sustainable programs.


For more about Nature Air’s carbon compensation program:
http://www.natureair.com/carbonneutral