Leading private jet charter marketplace Victor, in collaboration with Air BP and BP Target Neutral, has officially opened its carbon offset programme to operators and customers following a trial phase which began late last year. The programme aims to put the company, and participating aircraft operators, ahead of the curve in terms of meeting important industry deadlines around reduced environmental impact.

Over half of Victor and Air BP's 20 biggest operator customers have already signed up to the initiative, which is successfully transitioning to a fully-fledged industry programme seeking further expansion throughout 2018. The volume of charter booked through Victor's platform by operators signed up to the carbon offset programme has grown an additional 46% this year (year-on-year) versus standard operator bookings. Over three quarters of Victor's customers (78%) opted into the scheme have received quotes for flights where carbon emissions for the fuel used will be offset. Among the early adopters to endorse the initiative is Austria's GlobeAir, the world's largest Cessna Citation Mustang operator.

According to CORSIA, the International Civil Aviation Organization's global scheme for carbon offsetting and reduction, aircraft operators will need to purchase offsets for their growth in CO2 emissions above 2020 levels. That scheme launches with a voluntary period, 2021-2026, after which it becomes mandatory. Various industry bodies within business and general aviation have acknowledged specific ICAO targets to try and achieve carbon neutral growth by 2020, make 2% improvements in fuel efficiency (on average per year) between now and 2020, and ensure a 50% cut in total emissions by 2050, relative to 2015. By launching their carbon offset programme now, Victor and Air BP will ensure that a significant number of industry stakeholders are well positioned, and supported, to proactively help meet these crucial environmental targets. In turn, Victor's ambition is to use carbon neutral fuel for 100% of flights by 2020.

Having carbon emissions offset is conditional on participating operators using Air BP fuel for Victor bookings, wherever feasible. Eligible flights are transparently flagged on Victor's digital marketplace and flyers will have a record of carbon credits added to a digital flight log that customers can access on a quarterly basis. These credits -- at no extra cost to Victor customers - guarantee that carbon emissions for the fuel used on eligible flights are offset through investment in eight global BP Target Neutral carbon reduction projects around the world.

BP Target Neutral's global portfolio includes a variety of offset projects ranging from the installation of hydropower plants in rural China to biogas initiatives in Karnataka, India. All the projects are selected by an independent forum, independently verified and monitored in line with the ICROA (International Carbon Reduction & Offset Alliance) Code of Best Practice. The projects are chosen based on their contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goals, which includes their contribution to reducing carbon emissions and improving livelihoods for the communities they are based in through various educative, economic and social benefits.

Mike Ryan, Co-Founder & Head of Supply, Victor, says: "Victor continues to set an agenda for positive change across the private aviation industry. This programme, in collaboration with Air BP and BP Target Neutral, offers an instant opportunity for operators to advance their carbon reduction plans ahead of several crucial industry deadlines, whilst further validating the role of private aviation to the customer as a driver for global economic, social and cultural development. This is an important stepping stone in the journey towards a truly low carbon future."

Irene Lores, General Aviation Sales and Marketing Director, Air BP says: "At BP, we are striving to help the world address the dual challenge of meeting its need for more energy, while at the same time reducing carbon emissions. By collaborating with Victor in this new offset programme we are also supporting our operator customer base in the transition to a lower carbon future."

Bernhard Fragner, CEO & Founder, GlobeAir, says: "We are extremely pleased to have joined Victor and Air BP's carbon offset initiative. This gives GlobeAir an excellent platform to build on work it has done to adopt new navigation technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The initiative allows us to fully track our progress, too, and explore ways to keep enhancing it."

Victor, a subsidiary business of the newly-formed Alyssum Group, will initially operate its carbon offset programme, in collaboration with Air BP and BP Target Neutral, in the UK and Europe. More information, including details on how to sign up, can be found at www.flyvictor.com/carbonreduction

Contributed by VICTOR