QAS becomes 1st ground handler to join IATA Environmental Assessment Program
Qatar Airways Group subsidiary Qatar Aviation Services (QAS) has become the first ground handler globally to join the new expansion of the IATA Environmental Assessment Program (IEnvA) for ground service providers.
The IEnvA program for ground service provides a framework for achieving environmental sustainability across all ground operations.
Ground service providers can use the program’s guidance to reduce their impact on the environment, and improve health and safety for both employees and the community, while maintaining operational efficiency.
Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: “I am proud to lead the efforts to create a sustainable aviation industry. Environmental sustainability awareness across the entire organization is critical to the success of Qatar Airways Group. Through IEnvA, Qatar Aviation Services will be able to demonstrate the value of environmental compliance and ensure sustainability in its operations.”
IATA’s director general Willie Walsh commented: “We’re delighted to count Qatar Aviation Services as the first ground handler to join the newly extended IATA’s IEnvA program. Sustainability is a critical challenge for our industry.
“By taking proactive steps to measure their impacts and address them throughout their operations with IEnvA, QAS and Qatar Airways Group will back their sustainability achievements with the most comprehensive global standard environmental certification available in the industry.”
The IEnvA program is an environmental management system initially offered to airlines, which demonstrates equivalency to the ISO 14001: 2015 environmental management systems standard
It provides a structured approach to managing the environment, as well as reporting and mitigating environmental impacts. It is designed to enable organizations to more formally incorporate sustainability and environmental compliance strategies into their operations.
Qatar Airways, under the Qatar Airways Group, first achieved the highest level of IEnvA accreditation in 2017, becoming the first airline in the Middle East to do so.
