Possible Sustainability Initiatives for AA
 

Today, April 21 is Earth Day. Obviously as a major global airline AA's operations can have a harmful impact on our environment. What sustainability initiatives would you like to see?

Here's my list:

• Recycling receptacles in Admirals Club and Flagship Lounges. Composting of food waste (whenever possible). Some clubs have paper bins but they often contain other waste. We have no way of knowing other cans, bottles, etc actually get recycled.
• Sustainable design in airport facilities to maximize natural light and energy efficient lighting
• Replacing plastic cups with a biodegradable substitute such as corn based compostable material
• Continue adding blended winglets to aircraft (some 763s are still not outfitted, although many of those and S80s will be leaving the fleet in coming years)
• Information is power. Provide travelers information on the carbon emissions related to their flight selection. Offer the option to purchase offset

Accelerated replacement of MD-80s with more fuel efficient aircraft. For every MD-80 replaced by a 738, AA will burn approximately 60,000 fewer gallons of jet fuel every month. That's a lot of pounds of carbon.

None. Energy should be focused elsewhere.

Earth day is April 22, not 21.

One thing somewhat related is for AA to go to DL's way of handling gate upgrades and standbys. Once you clear your new seat assignment is flashed on the board and you simply board with your original BP. No need to get a new BP from the GA.

I think this is a wrong approach for "Earth Day"

It is not about what "they" can do, but what "I" can do.

I can think of at least 10 things that one can do for the environment without AA having to do anything.

Agreed - focus for AA should be elsewhere.

Btw - you do realize that the biodegradable cups suggestion is a farce. It takes significantly more energy to produce a biodegradable cup than say, a styrofoam cup. We're talking significantly more energy. So strangely enough, styrofoam is the better choice.

I suggest AA replace all paper cups with stryrofoam!

Why not just use regular mugs instead? Doesn't create any trash.

Weight, space, cleaning cost/resources.

Can you imagine stocking 100+ mugs on the aircraft?

Porter has no problem doing 70, international carriers that serve meals on narrow bodies have small plastic mugs on meal trays...

Forgot about the plastic cups. Would be nice to see them.

On an mildly related note, nothing beats a classic ceramic cup. Dissipates heat perfectly through the sides. ^

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Yes, and over the course of one year, the impact on the environment for the additional fuel to fly and wash an extra 100 mugs will be far less than 150 cups thrown away per leg. I don't know what the average number of legs per 24 hour period for an AA aircraft is, but assuming its say four, that's 219,000 styrofoam / plastic cups per year. The airline can find a place to stow them.

<redacted> I'd like to see AA do as much as possible to help green initiatives. Making sure all Admirals Clubs have proper mugs rather than disposable ones would be a start.

The only "sustainability" for AA i really carry about is that they remain as a carrier and maintain all the things certain of us travelers like about them.