South Korean Updates: S. Korean flag carriers agree to voluntarily cut greenhouse gas emissions (13 Sep 2013)

S. Korean flag carriers agree to voluntarily cut greenhouse gas emissions

September 13, 2013
Yonhap News Agency

SEOUL, Sept. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's flag carriers will work to further reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through improving the fuel efficiency of their aircraft and other measures, the government said Friday.

The country's seven airlines will voluntarily cut their greenhouse gas emissions under an agreement signed with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The airlines will be given additional starting points, depending on their performance of the agreement, when applying for new air routes, the ministry said in a press release.

The agreement comes as the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by the seven flag carriers is expected to reach 22 million tons in 2020, up from 17 million tons in 2010, and 37 million tons in 2050.

Since 2010, the companies have reduced their emissions by a combined total of 1.05 million tons while also cutting their use of fuel by some 330,000 tons under three voluntary pledges, according to the ministry. The seven flag carriers are Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, Air Busan, Jin Air, Eastar Jet and T'way Air.

Under the latest agreement, the companies will also seek to improve the fuel efficiency of their aircraft by over 2 percent, partly by introducing new and more efficient aircraft, as well as reducing the weight of their existing aircraft.

bdk@yna.co.kr

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