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Istanbul: The Istanbul event is IATA's first carbon neutral annual general meeting in its 64 editions. The body will offset the carbon costs of organising the meeting with a contribution to the Anemon Enerji Wind farm project.
IATA's efforts have achieved 10.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide savings. Helping members operate efficiently and shortening 395 routes led to savings of $2.1 billion in fuel costs.
IATA has made its four-pillar strategy an industry commitment. The strategy invests in technology, flying planes effectively, building efficient infrastructure and implementing positive economic measures. Governments have endorsed this by pledging to improve fuel efficiency by 25 per cent by 2020.
To reduce emissions, director-general Giovanni Bisignani suggested taking politics out of air traffic management with special focus on fixing the Pearl River Delta, implementing the NextGen Air Traffic Control system in the US and having a single European sky. "Governments must cooperate with the International Civil Aviation Organisation [ICAO] and develop a fair emissions trading scheme. Innovation in terms of funding research into biofuels and developing new generation airframes and engines is essential," he said.
IATA has teamed up with Solar Impulse in a project to fly around the world using only solar power. Bisignani pointed out that Virgin Atlantic's operation of a Boeing 747-400 early this year with one engine running on a mix of biofuel was a sign of the industry's push towards alternative fuels.
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