Up, up and away and CO2 neutral | Silverjet

An all-business class carrier that started flying between London Luton and Newark’s Liberty International Airport last week, Silverjet is the first airline to become carbon neutral. While several airlines and (online) travel agencies offer carbon dioxide offsets as part of their booking process, Silverjet is the first airline to make a carbon offset contribution mandatory. A smart and sympathetic element is that customers receive carbon offset points, which they can invest in a number of Verified Emission Reduction projects. This actively involves customers with offsetting, making the contribution seem less like an additional tax and more like a charitable donation. Climate friendly projects include a solar panel program in India and a wind farm in New Zealand. Silverjet’s CO2 neutral scheme is operated in partnership with the CarbonNeutral Company. The concept fits with our eco-mantra: make it easy and fun for your customers to be green. On a side note, while its mandatory carbon offsetting might be unique, Silverjet isn’t the only airline to offer a ‘private jet experience’. It joins Maxjet, PrivatAir, Eos and L’Avion, all flying transatlantic routes. Silverjet perks include a private terminal with dedicated security, flat-bed seats, quiet zones and women’s-only restrooms. Return tickets London-Newark start at USD 1,798; additional long haul routes will follow once the existing route becomes profitable. Related: Carbon offsets by sms | No-frills chic takes flight in Japan