JetBlue plans to go carbon neutral on all domestic flights later this year, offsetting carbon dioxide emissions from jet fuel for all domestic flights starting July 2020. The airline also plans to begin flying with sustainable aviation fuel later this year on flights from San Francisco (SFO). JetBlue is the first domestic airline to announce sustainability measures of this magnitude.

“Air travel connects people and cultures, and supports a global economy, yet we must act to limit
this critical industry’s contributions to climate change,” said Robin Hayes, CEO, JetBlue. “We reduce where we can and offset where we can’t. By offsetting all of our domestic flying, we’re preparing our business for the lower-carbon economy that aviation — and all sectors — must plan for.”

Currently, JetBlue offsets a portion of its carbon footprint via a partnership with carbonfund.org, a U.S.-based, non-profit carbon reduction organization. The expansion of the airline’s offsetting efforts is expected to offset an additional 15–17 billion pounds of emissions per year, equivalent to removing 1.5 million vehicles from the road. JetBlue’s carbon offsets fund projects such as solar and wind energy generation, landfill gas capture and forestry.

“The airline industry is one of the few industries that has collectively committed to an international emissions reduction goal,” added Hayes. “Air travel brings so much good to the world and JetBlue has always been about making our essential industry better. Carbon offsetting is a bridge to, not a silver bullet for, a lower carbon future. Reducing and mitigating our greenhouse gas emissions is a fundamental aspect of our business plan and our mission to inspire humanity.”