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- Lower Manhattan travelers soar high above traffic
- Airports, airlines could save with improved recycling programs
Lower Manhattan travelers soar high above traffic
A new helicopter shuttle service, run by a partnership between Continental Airlines and US Helicopter, now offers lower Manhattan travelers an attractive eight-minute commute to Newark International Airport. Flights operate hourly on weekdays and cost $159 USD for a one-way ticket.
In addition to avoiding the everyday hassles of traffic and congestion, travelers benefit from an expedited security clearance process. Luggage is checked and travelers are cleared through security at the company’s Manhattan heliport, near Wall Street. When passengers arrive at the airport, they are delivered directly to the gate area at Newark’s Terminal C.
While service to Newark just began in mid-December, US Helicopter has been providing shuttle service from the Wall Street area to John F. Kennedy International Airport since mid March of 2006, through a partnership with American Airlines.
For more information or to reserve a flight, visit US Helicopter’s website at www.flyush.com.
Sources: USA TODAY, Houston Business Journal, flyush.com
Airports, airlines could save with improved recycling programs
A new study has revealed that U.S. airports and airlines waste hundreds of thousands of dollars each year by failing to recycle the majority of their waste. The study, conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council, assessed the recycling efforts of 30 airports around the country and found room for improvement. In fact, U.S. airports generated 425,000 tons of waste in 2004 – a figure that is expected to increase in the years to come.
Each airline passenger leaves behind 1.3 pounds of waste on average, 75 percent of which is recyclable or compost-able. Unfortunately, the airline industry recycling rate is 20 percent or less, which lags behind the national average of roughly 30 percent. In 2004, the industry threw out 9,000 tons of plastic and enough newspapers and magazines to bury a football field more than 230 feet deep.
Since it requires much less energy to use recycled resources than those that need to be mined, logged or drilled, improved recycling strategies would allow for increased savings in energy and emissions. According to the study, if airports and airlines matched the average U.S. recycling rate of 30 percent, the energy savings would be enough to provide power to 20,000 U.S. households. Heat-trapping carbon emissions contributing to global warming – equivalent to the pollution from 80,000 cars – would also be eliminated.
Improved recycling efforts would also benefit airports by significantly reducing the amount of money spent on waste management. By redirecting recyclables like cans, bottles, and even used coffee grounds to recycling or composting facilities, the airports could then negotiate lower waste disposal fees based on their decreased waste output. Airports that already have recycling programs in place, such as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, have seen significant savings – in excess of $100,000 a year.
In addition to its findings, the study also offers suggestions and case studies airports can use to improve their waste management and recycling strategies. To view the full report, visit http://www.nrdc.org/cities/recycling/airline/contents.asp
Sources: The Natural Resources Defense Council, The Associated Press
