Airline Hopes To Be Plastic-Free By The End Of 2019

Lisbon-based wet-lease carrier Hi Fly has made the first-ever jet-age passenger flight without any single-use plastic items on board.

The ‘plastics-free’ trial, involving four flights by Hi Fly’s wide-body Airbus A340, 9H-SUN, took place December 26th between Lisbon and Natal in Brazil.

"This historic Hi Fly flight, without any single-use plastic items on board, underlines our commitment to making Hi Fly the world’s first ‘plastics-free’ airline within 12 months," said Hi Fly president Paulo Mirpuri. “We take that commitment very seriously.

"We are obviously excited and delighted that Hi Fly will be the first airline to attempt such a feat. Our corporate mission is based around sustainability and we work hand in glove with the Mirpuri Foundation to make sure that our corporate practices match our wider responsibilities to the planet.

“The test flights will prevent around 350 kilograms (770 pounds) of single-use, virtually indestructible plastics from poisoning our environment. Over 100,000 flights take off each day around the world and, last year, commercial aircraft carried nearly four billion passengers. This number is expected to double again in less than 20 years. So, the potential to make a difference here is clearly enormous. The test flights will help us trial the many substitute items we have developed and introduced them, in a real-world environment.

“We know we may encounter some initial teething problems, but we are confident of addressing these over the coming months. We know, too, from the feedback we have received from client airlines and passengers, that it’s the right thing for the airline to be doing."

Among the scores of single-use plastic items that have been replaced are: cups, spoons, salt and pepper shakers, sick bags, packaging for bedding, dishes, individual butter pots, soft drink bottles and toothbrushes.

And among the many innovations presented to passengers on the flight, by the Hi Fly environmental experts, will be bamboo cutlery, an array of paper packaging, and containers that, once used, can be readily composted.

(Image provided with Hi Fly news release)

FMI: www.hifly.aero