Metropolitan Airport NewsMetropolitan Airport News
  • Airport News
    • Publisher’s Message
    • Fast Five
    • On Duty
    • Air Cargo
    • Airline News
    • Airport Community
    • Airport Employment News
    • Airport Safety & Security
    • Company Spotlight
    • Ground Services
    • Intermodal
    • New York Aviation History
    • Non-Rev Traveler
  • Airport & Aviation Events
  • Airport Employment
  • Latest Issue
  • Login

Subscribe for Updates

Get the latest local airport and aviation news delivered right into your inbox each week!

News Updates
United States Mint Begins Shipping 2023 American Women Quarters Program Coins Honoring Bessie Coleman

U.S. Mint Begins Shipping 2023 Bessie Coleman Quarters

January 27, 2023
The 11.34 megawatt microgrid will transform the New Terminal One into the first fully resilient airport transit hub in the New York region that can function off-grid during power disruptions.

The New Terminal One Creates the Largest Rooftop Airport Terminal Solar Array in the U.S.

January 27, 2023
Airbus A350

Air France-KLM Orders Four A350F’s to Modernize the Fleet of Martinair

January 27, 2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Metropolitan Airport NewsMetropolitan Airport News
  • Airport News
    • Publisher’s Message
    • Fast Five
    • On Duty
    • Air Cargo
    • Airline News
    • Airport Community
    • Airport Employment News
    • Airport Safety & Security
    • Company Spotlight
    • Ground Services
    • Intermodal
    • New York Aviation History
    • Non-Rev Traveler
  • Airport & Aviation Events
  • Airport Employment
  • Latest Issue
  • Login
Metropolitan Airport NewsMetropolitan Airport News
Home»Airline News»JetBlue’s Sustainability Efforts Getting Results
Airline News

JetBlue’s Sustainability Efforts Getting Results

Joseph AlbaBy Joseph AlbaSeptember 8, 2016No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Sophia Mendelsohn Head of Sustainability for JetBlue
Sophia Mendelsohn Head of Sustainability for JetBlue

Metropolitan Airport News had a conversation with Sophia Mendelsohn, the head of JetBlue’s sustainability efforts, and the topics ranged from the now famous JetBlue garden, to the more prosaic subjects of reduced carbon dioxide aircraft fuels, airport service vehicles and all the other improvements airports can make to reduce air toxicity.
The T5 terminal at JFK airport has two gardens, a rooftop garden that is open to customers as a way to relax, rather than continue the pressures of travel in a busy and loud airport terminal. Solving that problem can be defined as human sustainability.

Plants as we all know, are not just nice to have around, and provide a healthy food supply, but also reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air since carbon to a plant is like a sirloin steak to a person. Carbon, along with sunlight and water are the growth engines of plant life. Therefore, a garden is a trifecta of benefits, pleasant to be in, one of our sources of food, and a sanitation system for our air since as part of photosynthesis, they produce oxygen. Something for all of us to think about when we see that unused piece of land in our back yard.

The conversation turned to other environmental steps that JetBlue is engaged in or planning. The more prosaic subjects of wing tips which reduce fuel usage, composite metals which reduce aircraft weight, and therefore fuel usage and the composition of fuel itself are all worth looking at.

JetBlue is also actively engaged in seeking a high quality and reliable source of alternate fuels. These are fuels from vegetable life, or from waste products, that do not burn with the high release of carbon dioxide that are a product of Jet fuels. The mix of high octane requirements to lift a jet aircraft off the ground, coupled with the need to reduce carbon emissions is challenging and takes thorough analysis and testing.

Airborne emissions present an opportunity to reduce carbon; but ground vehicles are also a potential source of reducing carbon emissions. Both Natural Gas Vehicles and Electric vehicles are used at other airports and both can be considered. JetBlue is looking at Electric vehicles and is involved in a joint study with the Port Authority to begin introducing this technology.

There are airports now using electric vehicles for towing, baggage handling, maintenance and supply, and point to point transport of ground staff. The big advantage of electric is that you charge the car during non-peak for the utility company, and therefore, utility emissions are flat while the batteries are being charged.

Ms. Mendelsohn, JetBlue’s leader in these efforts is taking aggressive and creative approaches to improving our environment and is willing to tackle these problems as a “first to the market” as marketing folks like to say. This is usually the most difficult but rewarding place to be.

Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Joseph Alba
  • Website
  • LinkedIn

Mr. Alba was previously Editor of the Airport Press for 12 years covering both local as well as global aviation news. Prior to this, Mr. Alba had Executive positions in Systems Engineering and Marketing with IBM World Trade, and had foreign assignments in the Far East and Latin America earning three Outstanding Achievement Awards. Mr. Alba also directed a new function dealing with Alternate Fuels for Public Service Electric & Gas company in New Jersey and founded a Natural Gas Vehicle Consortium consisting of car company executives and fleet owners, and NGV suppliers in New Jersey. Mr. Alba was a founding partner of ATA, an IT Consulting company which is still active in Central and South America. After leaving the armed forces, Mr. Alba’s initial employee was the U.S. Defense Department as an analyst.

RELATED NEWS & UPDATES

The 11.34 megawatt microgrid will transform the New Terminal One into the first fully resilient airport transit hub in the New York region that can function off-grid during power disruptions.

The New Terminal One Creates the Largest Rooftop Airport Terminal Solar Array in the U.S.

January 27, 2023
BIOLO Airport Straws

HMSHost Introduces BIOLO Biodegradable, Compostable Straws in U.S. Airport Dining Venues

January 26, 2023
Paper cups on board Alaska Airlines flights.

Alaska Airlines Eliminates Inflight Plastic Cups

January 25, 2023
Scott's Cheap Flights Announces Rebrand to Going

Scott’s Cheap Flights Announces Rebrand to Going

January 23, 2023
SSP America Opens Hunt & Fish Grill at LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B

SSP America Opens Hunt & Fish Grill at LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B

January 23, 2023
Hawaiian Airlines Joins Embry-Riddle’s SkillBridge Program

Hawaiian Airlines Joins Embry-Riddle’s SkillBridge Program to Train, Employ Transitioning Military Personnel

January 20, 2023
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

AIRPORT & AVIATION EVENTS
JFK Airport Food Service Hiring Event
January 31, 2023
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport-(JFK)
Jamaica, New York
LAAMCO Monthly Meeting
February 01, 2023
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
JFK Rotary Club Monthly Dinner Meeting
February 08, 2023
5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Vetro Restaurant & Lounge
Howard Beach, New York
  • >> More Airport & Aviation Events

Subscribe for Weekly Email Updates

Get the latest local airport news, events, and jobs delivered right into your inbox each week.

Metropolitan Airport News provides timely news, information and updates for both Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) employees and businesses that provide services at, and around the major New York airports (JFK, LGA, EWR).

John F. Kennedy International Airport
PO Box 300877
Jamaica, NY 11430 USA
Phone: (347) 396-0904
Email Us

Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Flickr
JANUARY 2023 ISSUE
Metropolitan Airport News - January 2023
LATEST COMMENTS
  • Airportlife2017 on The New Terminal One at JFK
  • Carol Simon Levin on Remembering Cornelia Fort, On a Date Which Will Live in Infamy
  • Julia Lauria-Blum on Remembering Cornelia Fort, On a Date Which Will Live in Infamy
  • About Us
  • Advertising Options
  • Charitable Giving Program
  • Back Issue Archive
  • Contact Us
© 2023 Airport Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.