Margin-Driven Integrated Approach Addresses JetBlue’s ESG Financial Drivers, Risks and Opportunities

JetBlue’s CEO Robin Hayes presented the highlights of the airline’s environmental, social, governance (ESG) strategy and plan to leading institutional investors at the Strategic Investor Initiative’s sixth annual CEO Force For Good Investor Forum. As part of Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP), a coalition of more than 200 corporations collectively representing $7 trillion in annual revenue, Hayes shared JetBlue’s plan to drive higher margins and returns through initiatives such as fuel savings and more efficient technology.

“We’re setting the foundation for the next decade of our airline and industry,” said Hayes (pictured). “JetBlue looks at ESG through the lens of our financial building blocks and we’re making long-term decisions to provide value to our stakeholders. Our strategy includes embracing the inevitable changes to come with climate-smart asset allocation and maintaining a relentless focus on culture. These measures and more help us capitalize on major shifts, rather than ignore them.”

Part of JetBlue’s ESG strategy includes climate change mitigation, reducing the airline’s greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for related regulatory changes. The airline’s primary sustainability priority is managing carbon (CO2) emissions from jet fuel in order to reduce fuel costs and protect JetBlue, the flying public and the industry from all costs associated with CO2. Since partnering with Carbonfund.org in 2008, JetBlue has offset more than 2.3 billion pounds of CO2.

The event was held earlier this week at the Park Hyatt New York.

CECP’s Strategic Investor Initiative (SII) created the CEO Investor Forums after 86% of CEOs at CECP’s 2016 Board of Boards said they spent too much time focused on short-term goals. The CEO Investor Forums are the platform for CEOs of leading companies to present their company’s long-term plans to institutional investors. The CEO Investor Forum builds on SII’s considerable momentum. Since the CEO Investor Forums began two years ago, over 30 CEOs have either delivered or committed to deliver long-term plan presentations, representing over $2 trillion in market capitalization.

“These CEO presentations are much more than just a ‘read out’ of numbers,” said Nandika Madgavkar Senior Director, Strategy, CECP. “From our research to the feedback we’ve received directly from investors, we know that investors want to hear about three long-term themes: risk, strategy and growth. CEOs that present at these Forums understand that the best way to attract ‘patient capital’ is to help inform the holders of that capital why your company is well-positioned for long-term success."

The Strategic Investor Initiative is co-chaired by Alex Gorsky, Chairman & CEO, Johnson & Johnson and Bill McNabb, former Chairman & CEO, Vanguard. Additional Advisory Board members hail from companies and investment firms including Bloomberg, Vanguard, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and KPMG, among others.

JetBlue’s ESG and Sustainability Focus – JetBlue believes in communicating transparently about climate change. The airline is committed to taking steps to address the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from its flights and JetBlue empowers and inspires its customers and crewmembers to offset GHG emissions when they fly. The airline is constantly looking for ways to become more fuel efficient and embrace efficient technologies. For example, JetBlue planes feature Airbus' Sharklets, which improve aerodynamics and cut fuel burn and emissions.

(Source: JetBlue news release. Image provided by JetBlue)

FMI: jetblue.com/sustainability