Following the launch of the Etihad Forest, Etihad’s initiative for biodiversity, wildlife and environmental protection through a network of mangrove and other forests being established in Abu Dhabi and around the world, Etihad Airways has committed to adopt a mangrove tree on behalf of every guest who books an Economy Space seat, ensuring every space seat sold is eventually carbon neutral.
Launched in February 2022, the Etihad Mangrove Forest is aiming to plant 182,000 mangroves tree in by the first quarter of 2023 in Abu Dhabi, before the next phase of the programme to plant new forests in international destinations. Mangroves remove up to four times more carbon dioxide from the air than other tropical forests, helping to fight the effects of climate change such as coral bleaching and coastline degradation, as well as support biodiversity and wildlife as an important habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife.
Through the initiative, Etihad will plant one mangrove tree in locations in Abu Dhabi for each economy space seat purchased on any Etihad Airways flight. Each mangrove planted alone will absorb up to 250kg of CO2 in its lifetime – the same amount produced by an eight-hour flight.
Sustainability and growth are equally important as Etihad becomes the first Middle East carrier to be offered a permanent presence at JFK’s New Terminal One
Every guest who books an Economy Space Seat will receive confirmation of their gifted mangrove in the Etihad Forest within 10 days of flying. From the email link, guests have the ability to track, virtually visit, see photos and other details of their tree, confirming the carbon offset for their recent travel. Guests have the option to register their claimed tree so they can easily revisit their tree at a later day. Through the platform’s app, Etihad guests can “chat” with their chatbot enabled tree, while also being able to track every tree with satellite maps and access data, including CO2 consumption metrics which can be tracked.
Meanwhile, Etihad Airways continues to strengthen its commitment in the US market with increased flights from New York’s JFK International Airport on the heels of the launch of the airline’s new A350 aircraft, and an expanded partnership with JetBlue.
In addition to increasing connectivity, Etihad and JetBlue are developing a frequent flyer partnership that will allow both TrueBlue frequent fliers and Etihad Guest members to earn and redeem miles across both networks.
In addition to the introduction of the A350, increased services to JFK and expanded partnership with JetBlue, in June it was announced Etihad would be one of the first airlines, and first Middle East carrier, to be offered a permanent presence at JFK’s New Terminal One.
Etihad passengers travelling to the US are able to take advantage of Etihad’s US pre-clearance facility, the only United States Customs and Border Protection facility in the Middle East. This allows passengers bound for the United States to process all immigration, customs and agriculture inspections in Abu Dhabi before they board their flight, avoiding immigration and queues on arrival in the US.