NetJets Europe (Europe’s largest private jet company) has announced that it will be 100% carbon neutral by 2012, with the introduction of an emissions offset program and emission reduction projects.

The company is also investing in technological innovation that aims to change aviation’s environmental impact. NetJets is supporting research at Princeton University in the development of an ultra-low emission jet fuel for today’s jet engines.

NetJets Europe is working with EcoSecurities, an emission reductions company based in Oxford, England, and is investing in Verified Emissions Reductions (pre-registration offsets) from Kyoto-level CDM registered projects to offset the carbon emissions of both the company and its clients.

Central to the emissions neutralising initiative is a decision to include carbon offsetting in NetJets pricing from October 1, 2007. All new clients and all existing customers who renew their contracts will purchase carbon credits that neutralise all the carbon emissions associated with their aircraft usage. Existing customers will also be encouraged to sign-up to the programme and offset their flying immediately. NetJets Europe will provide the offsetting service as a benefit to its owners at cost.

The Hawker 4000 midsize private jet

Other elements of NetJets Europe’s approach to carbon neutrality include the Low Emission Jet Fuel Project mentioned above, and a focus on operations energy conservation and emissions reductions. The company will be moving to more fuel-efficient aircraft, such as the Hawker 4000 and the Falcon 7X, and will reduce the fuel consumption of its Falcon 2000EX fleet by up to 5% by adding winglets to the planes. NetJets Europe has also committed to a 10% reduction in emissions across all of its offices in the next 2 years, is hiring a dedicated Environmental Affairs Manager to oversee the implementation and monitoring of its entire Climate Initiative and energy efficiency programme across Europe, and has established a European Environmental Advisory Board composed of global leaders on the environment.

It’s great to see a multi-pronged approach to the environmental aspect of private jet travel, and we at Luxury Reporter believe that all providers of private jet travel, fractional or otherwise, will soon see this as an obligatory step.

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