Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines celebrated Earth Month in April with a series of employee, visitor and community partner sustainability programmes aimed at supporting their overall efforts to be better stewards of the environment and improve operational efficiency throughout their airline system. They highlighted a growing recognition of the need to integrate approaches to air sector operations and activities supporting local communities, forming the concept of a climate-friendly air sector.   

The activities tied to Earth Month included things from trash pickup to innovations in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption. Parties from both carriers participated with nonprofits and volunteers in environmental rejuvenation and community projects. These activities focused on building links with local communities and on how to ensure airline staff champion environmental stewardship not only when they are flying but also when they are on the ground. The promotion of the use of sustainable aviation fuel was one of the key pillars of the Earth Month campaign, a key element to lowering the carbon emissions of air transport. The Atmos™ Rewards loyalty programme allowed them to help the airline's SAF pathway, in return for rewards. The White House has singled out similar incentives as a way to make SAF more widely used as industry continues to look for opportunities to achieve long-term climate objectives, industry observers say.   

In addition to the fuel programs, the airlines received praise for environmental achievements and continued innovations in airports, including the Boeing Field Association's Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. They are a part of the broader organisation's work in improving energy and resource use efficiency, minimising waste, and implementing IT systems as part of both the flight and ground servicing.   

Throughout Earth Month, Alaska and Hawaiian used this opportunity as a means to remind all that sustainability is an all-year-round priority. The carriers emphasised a comprehensive, multi-dimensional perspective on environmental responsibility by the active involvement of workers, communities and visitors.