Since launching in January 2021, private aviation sustainability rating system 4Air has helped private jet owners, operators and passengers voluntarily offset or reduce more than one million metric tons of CO2 through the use of verified carbon offsets and SAF. In total, its programmes have facilitated more than 250,000 carbon neutral flight hours, reducing the impact of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by jets during flight; offset more than 80,000 emissions neutral flight hours, accounting not only for CO2 but also for non-carbon emissions such as soot, water vapour and contrails; and made possible more than 125 million carbon neutral flight miles, the equivalent of 262 round trips to the moon.

“Climate change is the greatest sustainability challenge we face, and it is critical that we do everything we can to offset or reduce emissions of CO2 and other pollutants that affect the climate,” says president Kennedy Ricci. “Our goal is to help aviation stakeholders become part of the solution to climate change, and the strong response to our programmes during 2021 convinces us that aviation is willing to be a leader in the sustainability space.”

During its first year, 4Air launched increasingly progressive ratings programmes to promote sustainability through carbon neutrality via carbon offsets, emissions neutrality via offsets and actual emissions reduction through measures such as SAF. Its programmes have attracted participation from fractional, jet card and charter travel providers as well as aircraft management companies, corporate flight departments, individuals, OEMs, airports and FBOs.

Other initiatives during 2021 included helping private aircraft users find SAF regardless of the airport, FBO or fuel provider. The 4Air SAF aggregator, accessed via a live, open-source map, benefits not only 4Air clients but the industry as a whole since anyone can use it to find SAF availability, which varies because of limited distribution. The company also became the first private aviation industry participant to make a trade on the IATA Aviation Carbon Exchange, a centralised platform where airlines and other aviation stakeholders can trade carbon offsets.

4Air supports carbon offset projects that not only reduce emissions but also align with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Each carbon offset credit reflects independently-verified reductions or avoidances of one metric ton of carbon dioxide (mtCO2) through real projects, such as deforestation prevention and forest preservation in Kenya; clean wind-generated electricity in the upper midwest United States; and high-efficiency cooking stoves that reduce the amount of wood needed for cooking. The company promotes awareness and education of sustainability by offsetting the impact of major aviation industry events such as CJI Miami and NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas, and offsets and supplies SAF to private flights arriving and departing from major private fly-in events such as Monterey Car Week. It also partnered with the Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA), led by the University of Cambridge, to develop interactive, evidence-based tools to engage decision-makers, the aviation industry and the public about how to achieve the ultimate goal of Net Zero Flight, under which flight activity would generate no additional climate-changing emissions.

“We are helping private jet owners, operators and passengers reduce their carbon footprint through effective, market-based programmes with real impact,” adds Ricci. “During 2022, we want to further expand access to our initiatives, continue to grow the number of participants and offer increasingly robust solutions to climate challenges. We all want to do right by the environment, and these programmes offer attractive ways for aviation stakeholders to engage and offset or even reduce the emissions their flights produce.”