Sustainability at Jet Aviation — Why we do what we do

With Switzerland experiencing one of the rainiest summers on record and unprecedented temperatures being reported across Canada and the U.S., changes in global climatic conditions compel us to take a look at what we're doing on the sustainability front and contemplate what more we can do as a good corporate citizen, and as part of the aviation industry.

Electric Vehicles: Jet Aviation was pleased to add its first Electric Vehicle (EV) in June 2021. That was in Hong Kong. This month, we're pleased to announce we've just added two new EVs to our ground transportation fleet in Zurich and have already placed an order for two more EVs for our FBO facility in Dusseldorf.

"Electric vehicles have many advantages, including lower fuel and maintenance costs," says Joao Martins, VP Regional FBO Operations Europe and General Manager Zurich, "but the principle benefit for everyone is the reduction in harmful exhaust emissions. With no tailpipe emissions, EVs are a cleaner, better alternative to petrol and diesel vehicles. Moving forward, we plan to replace passenger vehicles with electric vehicles as their leases expire."

“Electric vehicles have many advantages, including lower fuel and maintenance costs, but the principle benefit for everyone is the reduction in harmful exhaust emissions. With no tailpipe emissions, EVs are a cleaner, better alternative to petrol and diesel vehicles. Moving forward, we plan to replace passenger vehicles with electric vehicles as their leases expire.”

SAF: As the first FBO to offer sustainable fuel via a blended fuel option at Van Nuys Airport on an ongoing basis, Michael McDaniel, Jet Aviation's Regional FBO Director in West USA, confirms we've already uplifted nearly 3.5 million gallons of blended SAF since opening our doors in Van Nuys in January 2019.

We were also proud to be the first and exclusive provider of SAF in Switzerland through a pilot program on offer in Zurich during WEF 2020 — and continue to explore ways to promote SAF across our network, where we hope to have more news soon.

Technology and Innovation: In adopting new technologies and innovation to best meet customer requirements in terms of design, the environment and aircraft functionality, our Completions business has had great success in reducing fuel consumption by building lighter cabins. Similarly, we partnered in R&D with GD sister company, Gulfstream, to create extremely quiet cabins, which happen to be lighter and more comfortable.

“As the first supplier to offer sustainable fuel via a blended fuel option at Van Nuys Airport, Jet Aviation is proud to promote environmental sustainability by offering an alternative fuel option on an ongoing basis. The company has uplifted nearly 3.5 million gallons of blended SAF since opening its doors in Van Nuys in January 2019 and is currently working with partners to advance further sustainable solutions.”

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Call it good business or just plain common sense, but Jet Aviation is looking at the environment holistically, while actively supporting several initiatives designed to help improve our global environmental, social, and economic impact.

This might involve a large investment, such as when we built to LEED standards in Burbank, Van Nuys, Bedford and Palm Beach, but it's also about being more conscious of and conscientious about our smaller day-to-day decisions that impact others and the environment. We can't always choose to incorporate solar panels, as we're now doing in Scottsdale, but we can and do choose to use energy efficient lighting, implement recycling systems, and reduce plastic whenever possible, as intended with our new branded SIGG water bottle!

Whether we're promoting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal on climate change (amongst others), supporting the business aviation community's commitment to minimizing the industry's carbon footprint, or forging partnerships with innovative thought leaders, we strive at Jet Aviation to leverage expertise, knowledge and relationships to bring the most viable, practical and sustainable solutions to our customers and the industry.

Shared goals, collaboration and partnership is how we see the way forward. If you have any ideas about how we can improve efficiencies, reduce waste, or otherwise have a positive impact on our environment, please let us know. We can always do more, and every little bit helps. That's the point.