On behalf of my more than 45,000 co-workers, welcome aboard, and thank you for selecting Continental Airlines for your flight today. In addition to enjoying our award-winning product and service, you can rest easy knowing that at Continental, we are committed to ensuring your satisfaction in an environmentally responsible manner. We recognize that preserving the environment and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions are everyone’s concern, and we monitor every aspect of our business in order to maximize efficiency and minimize waste.
Our primary focus, and the area where we can do the most to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is the modernization of our fleet and the streamlining of our aircraft operations. Already we have made great progress in this area, due in large part to an investment of more than $12 billion over the past decade to acquire 270 fuel-efficient aircraft and related equipment. We have placed large orders for Boeing’s most environmentally friendly aircraft, like the 737-900ER and the 787 Dreamliner. We have also equipped many aircraft in our existing fleet with fuel-saving technology like blended winglets and advanced engine fan blades, further reducing emissions.
Since 1997 we have achieved approximately a 35 percent reduction in emissions per revenue passenger mile flown, creating 1.2 million fewer metric tons of emissions than if we had not modernized the fleet. In fact, I’m proud to say that Continental Airlines flights generate, on average, 7.8 percent less greenhouse gas than passenger flights of other U.S. major air carriers.*
In addition, we are testing the use of biofuel and other alternative energy options in many of our ground equipment vehicles. We’re already primarily using electric ground service equipment at our Houston hub, which has helped us to reduce our nitrogen oxide emissions from ground equipment at that location by about 75 percent.
Other environmental initiatives span the breadth of our business. We have implemented recycling not only on our aircraft, but also at our headquarters and every other facility across the system where we have the option of doing so. Additionally, we constantly work on initiatives related to noise, safe handling and disposal of toxic substances, maintaining safe and clean potable water supplies, and other areas of environmental concern.
We have also partnered with Sustainable Travel International to bring you the most comprehensive calculator-based carbon-offsetting opportunity in the U.S. airline industry. To learn more about this opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint, go to continental.com, click on “About Continental,” and then go to “Commitment to the Environment” under “Company Profile,” where you will be able to contribute funds helping to offset all, or a portion of, the carbon footprint of your travels. I do this for every flight I take.
The team member I’d like to highlight this month for Employee of the Month is Houston-based Customer Service Agent Chris DeJesus. You can read more about Chris and his contributions to the community here.
On behalf of Chris, and all my more than 45,000 co-workers, thank you again for your business. We hope to see you again soon.
Larry Kellner
Chairman and CEO
Continental Airlines
