• B30 Bio-diesel warning
• GETTING TO THE POINTS
• Pre-Budget Report Comment
• BUMPER CARS
• I LIKE DRIVING IN MY CAR… (ON MY OWN)
• HARD DAYS LIGHT
• ANIMAL TRAGIC
• FUEL’S GOLD
• SEEING ‘RED’ OVER HIGH FUEL COSTS
• DRIVING “CONDITIONS”
• MANY HAPPY RETURNS?
• KICKING THE CO2 HABIT
• ‘GREEN’ FINGERS

• FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TO GROUND TRAFFIC CONTROL

• CULTURE SHOCK
• DON’T DRIVE DROWSY
• ‘FOLLOW THAT STAR!’
• PULLING POWER
• The Darling Budget of March - 08
• Courtesy Cars - March 08
• Green Survey - Feb 08
• New congestion charge angers industry - Feb 08
• Midlands Excellence Award win - Jan 2008

FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TO GROUND TRAFFIC CONTROL

Much has been said about British Airways new fleet of aircraft and the environmental benefits they will deliver. But, more immediately on the ground, a ‘top-down’ car fleet strategy for its sales force enabling the airline to reduce its car fleet carbon footprint by a third.

British Airways Chief Executive Willy Walsh and Chairman Martin Broughton have driven a strategy that see the company take one of the largest single orders of the most environmentally friendly hybrid cars around.

With the help of Masterlease, the 100+ sales force will from this summer be driving Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles, which not only meet the highest environmental targets for emissions but also deliver greater fuel efficiency. This switch from their old vehicles will take place immediately reducing emissions per car from around three to two tonnes of C02 per year.

The savings have been possible because BA’s environment and procurements teams looked for not only lower driver emissions, but the C02 impact of the vehicle in relation to its whole life cycle – from its manufacture and delivery, to its use and ultimate disposal.

After a rigorous tendering process, the Honda Civic Hybrid was selected because its benefits will also outlive the lease life and be passed onto other drivers when Masterlease re-market the vehicle.

Mal Murphy, procurement general manager for BA, says: “We have set ourselves targets not only to cut emissions in the air but also on the ground and each driver will be reducing their carbon footprint by one third every year through this strategy. It was started at the very top with the chairman and chief executive with the aim of being carbon and cost neutral in the process. Masterlease has been central to helping us achieve that.”

Gary Meades, Environmental Manager British Airways, added; “Environmental performance was the key consideration in British Airways’ decision to invest in the new fleet and the hybrid technology not only meets the highest environmental targets for vehicle emissions but will also deliver greater fuel efficiency.
 
John Kingston, Honda (UK) Environment Manager, said: “We are delighted to supply the Civic Hybrid to BA in what represents one of the largest hybrid fleet deals in the UK.

“BA's decision is a ringing endorsement for the Civic Hybrid, its excellent environmental credentials and demonstrates the fleet sector’s increasing demand for cleaner vehicles – a factor that has enabled us to achieve 270 per cent growth in Civic Hybrid sales compared to the same period in 2007.”

Clive Forsythe, sales and marketing director for Masterlease adds: “The objective of the exercise was to get the most environmentally friendly vehicle currently available and look at it from a whole life perspective.  In addition BA wanted to keep its drivers motivated and keep the cost base neutral. 
 
“All these have been achieved and we have been able to accelerate the change over of the fleet into the next three months as opposed to over the next four years and reduce the new vehicle period of hire from 48 to 36 months, at no additional cost to BA.”
Ends