Annual report details airline's progress in areas such as safety, wellness, the environment, and employee and community engagement
Air Canada launched the 2021 edition of Citizens of the World, which outlines how the airline has made progress on a variety of sustainability programs despite the impact of COVID-19 on the global airline industry. Air Canada's annual corporate sustainability report details the airline's progress in areas such as safety, wellness, the environment, and employee and community engagement.
“Although COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on airlines around the world, I am proud that Air Canada has continued to advance its ESG (environmental, social and governance) initiatives and remains focused on its sustainability goals through long term. This has included keeping our customers and employees safe, reducing our environmental footprint, and contributing to the well-being of the communities we serve, especially through the Air Canada Foundation,” said Michael Rousseau, Air Canada Chairman and CEO. “We know that the effects of the pandemic are transitory, but addressing sustainability risks and opportunities and helping to create a more sustainable aviation industry requires a long-term commitment and strategy.
Citizens of the World, Air Canada's 2021 Corporate Sustainability Report, is available at www.aircanada.com. It details how the airline integrates environmental and social factors into its daily operations through three pillars of sustainability: Our Business, Our People and Our Planet. To ensure transparency, integrity, and accountability, an independent third party was contracted for a limited assurance engagement on selected performance indicators. Highlights from this year's report include:
· In 2021, Air Canada launched its new Climate Action Plan, which includes ambitious milestones to achieve its long-term goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
· Air Canada launched the Leave Less Travel program, which offers corporate customers the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint related to business travel.
The retirement of more than 10,000 employees, the hiring of new recruits for Air Canada operations groups in 2021, and associated training programs to support the return, growth and development of employees in their role, even in security matters.
· To underscore its commitment to customer and employee safety, it operated year-round under a comprehensive program, Air Canada CleanCare+, to apply industry-leading biosecurity measures at every stage of travel.
· In 2021, the Air Canada Foundation raised more than C$1 million and distributed nearly C$600,000 to support nearly 160 charities.
· Air Canada celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Aeroplan Membership Giving Program. In 2021, Aeroplan and its members donated nearly 65 million points through Aeroplan's member donation program.