Carbon Offsetting, Relieving Guilt for Air Travellers

Vancouver’s Harbour Air Seaplanes (HA) prides itself on being the World’s Largest all Seaplane Airlines, and more importantly the first Airline in North America to achieve Carbon Neutral status in both corporate and flight operations.

Flying has always been known as a quick and convenient method of transportation, but has been boycotted by many due to it’s harmful effects on the environment. To counter these effects, HA charges passengers a small fee (around $2 per flight), which is used purchase “Carbon Credits” from Offsetters. Offsetters, is a Canadian company who “offsets” its clients carbon emissions by implementing programs that reduce atmospheric C02.

HA started this program with hopes of reducing their large carbon foot print, but Carbon Neutrality, has turned out to be a very good marketing strategy aimed at the “Green” consumer. This strategy helps to relieve customer’s environmental concerns, and brings in customers that wouldn’t have previously considered this means of transportation. When HA first started this program in 2007, it provided them with a significant competitive advantage, the only problem was it was fairly easily replicated by their competition.

Now a days, different means of offsetting carbon emissions are used by many of the major airlines. I believe that this is an excellent marketing strategy and just the right thing to do, HA has excepted its weakness (carbon emissions) and gone out and done something about it. In a time where it seems like there is a lot of talk and little action about fighting climate change, I believe that Harbour Air should be praised for leading the way in reducing carbon emissions.

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