Chicago – United Airlines released its Corporate Responsibility Report on August 7 highlighting the company’s work to operate a socially, environmentally and financially responsible business. The report, which covers 2010 and 2011, outlines the company’s commitment to building its global business in a way that benefits customers, co-workers, investors and the environment they share.
In 2011, United and its customers contributed more than $25 million in cash and travel and volunteered nearly 40,000 hours to support community partners.
Environment
United was the first U.S. airline to serve customers on a flight powered by algae-based biofuel and has signed agreements to negotiate the purchase of more than 50 million gallons of biofuel. Through its Eco-Skies Program, United continues to reduce its environmental footprint with greater fuel efficiency in the air and on the ground, enhanced recycling efforts and improved use of sustainable products.
Co-workers
United co-workers participate in employee profit sharing and programs that provide incentives for good performance. Today, co-workers benefit from wellness and safety programs, including on-site health clinics at select locations.
Investors
United is making investments in its aircraft fleet and ground facilities and will be the first U.S. carrier to take delivery of the fuel-saving, customer-pleasing Boeing 787 Dreamliner. In addition to ordering more than 270 new aircraft made by Boeing and Airbus, United is investing $550 million to upgrade its existing fleet and more than $400 million to improve its customers’ experiences at airports.
Further strengthening its commitment to sustainability and the environment, United Airlines announced on August 17 that it has joined the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG), an industry working group whose objective is to accelerate the development and commercialization of aviation biofuels.
“We are excited to collaborate with other industry leaders in our shared quest to advance sustainable biofuels,” said Jimmy Samartzis, Managing Director of Global Environmental Affairs and Sustainability for United. “We will all benefit from our collective work to find solutions to make alternative fuel available at commercial scale and secure a sustainable future for aviation.”
Collectively, the members of SAFUG represent approximately 32 percent of commercial aviation fuel demand. When joining SAFUG, United Airlines signed a pledge to pursue the advancement of drop-in biofuels that achieve important sustainability criteria, work with leading organizations to achieve biofuel certification standards, and take actions to enable commercial use of aviation biofuels.
United Airlines is a leader in aviation biofuels, operating the first U.S. commercial flight powered by advanced biofuels in November 2011, following historic test and demonstration flights in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The company also signed letters of intent to negotiate the purchase of more than 50 million gallons of sustainable biofuels.
United is committed to the environment through its Eco-Skies program, which is designed to make a positive impact on the environment – in the air, on the ground, at its facilities, with business partners and across communities.
Eco-Skies highlights include:
- The airline’s investments in modern, fuel-efficient aircraft and equipment have resulted in a 32 percent improvement in fuel efficiency.
- United is further modernizing its fleet with orders for more than 270 new aircraft including 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 100 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, which will deliver a significant improvement in fuel efficiency.
- More than 300 aircraft in United’s mainline operations are equipped with winglets that deliver up to a 5 percent reduction in emissions and noise.
- More than 3,600 ground support equipment vehicles, or approximately 26 percent of our fleet of ground support equipment, are electric or alternatively fueled.
- During the last five years, United recycled more than 20 million pounds of cans, paper and plastic items from waste generated in flight and at its facilities.
- Eco-Teams, comprised of cross-divisional representatives, are at every hub and major maintenance facility.
The Corporate Responsibility Report is available online at: http://crreport.united.com
About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,574 flights a day to 377 airports on six continents from their hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. In 2011, United carried more traffic than any other airline in the world, and operated more than two million flights carrying 142 million passengers. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 193 countries via 27 member airlines. The common stock of United’s parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL. For more information, visit www.united.com.
Source: United Continental Holdings, Inc.
