MONTREAL, Dec. 17, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Transat, world's first certified green airline in 2011, has reached another milestone. The airline is the first in the world to have achieved the second level Minimization award in the Fly-360-Green Certification Program, a benchmark for high performing airlines / aircraft operators. 

"We are especially proud to have obtained this certification because it recognizes the efforts that we have made to improve our environmental performance in every area of our airline through initiatives such as greenhouse gas reduction, energy and water conservation, recycling and social responsibility" said Jean-Francois Lemay, General Manager of Air Transat. "It was the hard work and dedication of our employees that enabled us to attain this high standard and we will continue to improve so that we maintain our role as an industry leader."

Developed by the World Green Aviation Council (WorldGAC), Fly-360-Green is a point based performance rating system where points are earned for business attributes considered environmentally beneficial in 8 key areas: Engineering, Ground Operations, Flight Planning/Dispatch, Flight Operations, Greening on Board, Corporate Environmental Practices, Corporate Policies, Strategic Planning. Airlines and aircraft operators can qualify for one of the four certification levels: Participation, Minimization, Efficiency, and Neutrality.

Fly-360-Green differs from other rating systems in that it has quantified most of the "green credits". This ensures airlines are environmentally compatible, retain high quality standards, and are financially sound. The World Green Aviation Council, apart from fostering the international standard for sustainable aviation by addressing aviation's absolute emissions, is the third-party administrator of the Fly-360-Green certification program.

WorldGAC performs technical reviews and verification of Fly-360-Green registered projects to determine if they meet the standards set forth in the Fly-360-Green rating system. Dedicated technical experts ensure Fly-360-Green certification meets the highest levels of quality and integrity. 

About Air Transat
Air Transat is Canada's leading holiday travel airline. Every year, it carries some 3 million passengers to nearly 60 destinations in 25 countries aboard its fleet of Airbus wide-body jets. The company employs approximately 2,000 people. Air Transat is a business unit of Transat A.T. Inc., an integrated international tour operator with more than 60 destination countries and that distributes products in over 50 countries.

SOURCE Transat A.T. Inc.