Korean Air says it has established an environment-friendly management system to "contribute to a greener environment and minimise the environmental impact of air travel in our communities".

The airline says it has been proactively taking "appropriate measures" both in the air and on the ground to address the issue for over a decade.

To promote public awareness of being eco-friendly and to educate the next generation in the year 2010, Korean Air has appointed a pair of 'teddy bear crew' - one pilot-style teddy bear dubbed Mr. Greene and another flight attendant-style teddy bear called Miss Love, who will act as the ambassadors to spread the green message. The display will be welcoming the public at the Hong Kong regional office of Korean Air during July 7-21.


The teddy bear ambassadors will then travel around the world, such as China, Korea, London, Spain, Paris, Japan and other possible locations, in the coming months to advocate the eco-friendly message among the public.

Corporate initiatives

To reduce fuel consumption, noise pollution and carbon emissions, Korean Air has been actively upgrading its fleet, improving maintenance and operation procedures, and reducing cabin load weight over the past decade.

The airline has already ordered fuel-efficient and eco-friendly next generation aircraft, the A380, B787, B777 and B747-8, to fill its future fleet especially for high-demand and long-haul routes. The A380 and B787, which are expected to join Korean Air’s fleet from 2011, use 20% less fuel. The airline is expected to receive ten A380s, ten B787s, and state-of-the-art freighter aircraft up until 2015.

Korean Air has also set up a corporate green team to plan and implement fuel-saving initiatives. Through a company-wide dedication to fuel-saving, Korean Air was able to reduce more than 350,000 tons of greenhouse gases, and its fuel efficiency rate is 17 per cent higher than the industry average of International Air Transport Association (IATA) member airlines. In 2009, Korean Air operated 2674 flights between Hong Kong and Korea. A reduction of 100kg in cabin load weight on those flights eventually saved approximately US$23,538 annually for the airline.

The company participated in manufacturing and designing new wingtips, designed to achieve fuel efficiency thus reducing carbon emissions and saving fuel costs. In addition, Korean Air has shortened certain flight routes where possible and optimized airport design to minimise taxiing and boarding ramp delay time – all these measures save fuel and reduce emissions. Generation of waste, wastewater and toxic exhaust from ground operations has also been reduced.

Another highlight of the airline’s green management program is Korean Air’s Global Tree Planting
Project which demonstrates continued support for sustainable forestry. The airline began planting white poplars, pines and other trees in the deserts of Mongolia in 2004 to counter desertification and reduce yellow dust. The Korean Air Forest in Kubuqi, Inner Mongolia, is being created as part of the biggest project to create a Green Wall of Korea-China Friendship 28km long and 3-8km wide. This was expanded to China in 2007 and to urban Los Angeles in 2009. Since the first tree planting, the Korean Air forest has grown to 2,851,900sqm with 900,000 trees. Korean Air plans to increase this to 6 millionsqm with 1.8 million trees by 2011.

Korean Air’s company-wide efforts and commitment to environment-friendly development are reflected in its long-term operational strategy and targets. In addition, office policies designed to raise staff awareness of the environment such as the 'no-tie policy' for male staff, Green Friday and saving office materials, also show its dedication to a healthier and greener community. Korean Air will continue its green efforts to preserve and sustain the global environment.

Korean Air, with a fleet of 129 aircraft, is one of the world's top 20 airlines, and operates almost 400 passenger flights per day to 116 cities in 39 countries. It is a (founding) member of the global airline alliance SkyTeam.

Website: www.koreanair.com.