News
Qantas Airways goes green with frequent flyer eco-scheme
November 26th 2021
Qantas Airways today launched what is believed to be a world first scheme to entice its 13 million frequent flyers to embrace carbon offsetting and other eco-friendly activities. Read More » The Australian carrier already has the world’s leading flight carbon offset program but it is ignored by almost 90% of its customers. Now a new “green” frequent flyer membership tier will be rolled out early next year to try and change that mindset. The new tier will sit alongside existing loyalty program flying tiers such as silver, gold and platinum. The airline said the scheme is designed to “encourage, educate and reward” Qantas Frequent Flyer members by allowing them to earn benefits such as points and status credits for being green. They will need to complete at least five sustainable activities a year across six areas: flying, travel, lifestyle, sustainable purchases, reducing impact and “giving back” (contributing to a sustainability organisation or project). They will receive credits towards the new tier with actions such as offsetting their flights, home and car, purchasing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), installing solar panels, walking to work and even contributing to the Great Barrier Reef. Those wanting to offset their home and car emissions will be able to use a simple calculator and buy offsets through the airline’s frequent flyer program while earning 10 points per A$1 spent. The airline estimates the average annual cost to offset home energy for a family of four with two cars would be about A$200, or 26,000 frequent flyer points. It plans to use the money to invest in Australian carbon credits and to support carbon offset projects in Australia and abroad. “Offsetting is one of the main ways Australia can reduce its net emissions in the short to medium term until new low emission technology becomes available,’’ Qantas Group CEO, Alan Joyce, said. “We are looking at structural changes to reduce our greenhouse gases, including investment in more efficient aircraft that can cut emissions by 15% and using sustainable aviation fuel that typically cuts them by up to 80%.” Joyce said Qantas was in talks with industry and governments about kickstarting an Australian SAF sector and was finalising the airline’s first significant purchase of sustainable fuel.
