Portuguese charter carrier Hi Fly has operated what it is
calling the first jet-age passenger flight with no single-use plastic items.
The plastics-free flight, operated on an Airbus A340,
ferried passengers from Lisbon to the northeastern Brazil city of Natal on
Tuesday. It's one of four such flights that Hi Fly will operate as part of a
holiday-season trial. More than 700 passengers will take part in the trial.
"Among the scores of single-use plastic items that have
been replaced are cups, spoons, salt and pepper shakers, sick bags, packaging
for bedding, dishes, individual butter pots, soft drink bottles and
toothbrushes," Hi Fly said.
In their place, the airline is providing passengers with
such items as bamboo cutlery, an array of paper packaging and compostable
containers.
Hi Fly CEO Paulo Mirpuri said the carrier has committed to
becoming the world's first plastics-free airline within the next year. The four
test flights alone will prevent the use of approximately 770 pounds of
plastics.
"Over 100,000 flights take off each day around the
world and, last year, commercial aircraft carried nearly four billion
passengers," Mirpuri said. "This number is expected to double again
in less than 20 years. So, the potential to make a difference here is clearly
enormous."