UK aviation regulator visits Jet2.com's Manchester base, sustainability ""top of the agenda""

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) visited Jet2.com's Manchester base with sustainability on the agenda. The visit comes as the regulator prepares to consult with the industry on enhancing both its environmental reporting capabilities and performance through its aviation environmental review, as well as publishing findings and next steps on its consumer environmental information consultation. The visit was made by the regulator's CEO Rob Bishton along with the regulator's newly appointed group director for consumers and markets Selina Chadha. ""Our mission is to protect people and enable aerospace so it’s important as the regulator to see first-hand the proactive steps the industry is taking to improve sustainability within the aviation sector,"" said Bishton. Jet2.com demonstrated some of its sustainability initiatives, including its work to reduce its airside carbon footprint through all electric-crew buses and ground handling equipment. Over half of the British airline's owned ground handling equipment in the UK are now converted to an electric fuel supply. Jet2.com CEO Steve Heapy commented: ""We are proud of the work that we have done, and continue to do, to address our climate impact. This includes investing in new and more fuel-efficient aircraft, such as our order of 146 Airbus A321 NEO aircraft, which are over 20% more fuel efficient than older aircraft. We have also invested in a sustainable aviation fuel production plant here in the UK."" The visit ties into the CAA's ongoing engagement with the industry to understand a wealth of perspectives in order to better inform its decision making.