It is important to convert our operations to eco friendly operations as an airline and we are planning to covert all our flights to environmental friendly flights within two years, CEO SriLankan Airlines Manoj Gunawardena said at the launch of first SriLankan Green Flight to Frankfurt.

This is part of our obligations to meet certain compliances made by European Union and IATA to minimize the environmental impact by the global aviation industry. Transforming to eco friendly operations will financially benefit the airline in long term periods.

This initiative helps the airline to use its recourses efficiently and avoid unnecessary cost, which will heavily contribute for the company’s profits.

The airline adopted a formal environmental policy last January. The company’s success in increasing fuel efficiency of its aircraft fleet through the adoption of best practices has drawn the attention of the industry.

SriLankan formed a fuel efficiency department last July and has since increased its fuel efficiency by an impressive average of 3.91 percent per month up to end January. In real terms, the airline has saved a staggering 2.38 miilion US gallons of fuel over seven months.

There are three phases in the airline go green project. The first step is to reduce resources used during the flight operations and reducing noise pollution and emission. We are still at this stage. Second stage is to switching resources which have less impact on environment and the final phase will be offset, he said.

However to convert completely to an eco friendly operations may take time so it is important to educate our passengers on environmental friendly travel practices, Gunawardena said.

The first green flight UL 557 is a low tech green flight which has a maximum use of recyclable materials for meals using biodegradable and recyclable plastic items.

Waste inside the flight was separated in the aircraft to be deposed of in the Frankfurt airport management system and the duty free bags were recycled. Even the weight of magazines carried on board is been reduced.

For the passengers, the experience began with a special green counter at BIA and paperless ticketing. Even the vehicles used for support services for the aircraft at BIA were certified as environmental friendly. Passengers who follow environmental friendly travel practices were given gifts by the cabin crew in the flight.

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