Air NZ installs dryers to cut aircraft emissions

Media Release
16 September 2008

Air New Zealand installs dryers to cut aircraft emissions

Air New Zealand is reinforcing its claim to the title of the world’s most environmentally responsible airline by installing new equipment that will reduce the carbon emissions from its international jet fleet.

The airline will retrofit zonal dryers supplied by CTT Systems Inc of Sweden across four of its jet fleets to reduce fuel burn and consequent emissions.

The electrically-powered dryers, mounted in the space above the ceiling or under the floor, reduce moisture trapped in insulation between the aircraft outer skin and cabin lining. They typically remove around 200 kilogrammes of water from each aircraft, which reduces fuel consumption.

Air New Zealand expects to save 500,000 US gallons of fuel a year across 42 aircraft, reducing carbon emissions by 4700 tonnes a year.

General Manager Airline Operations Captain David Morgan says Air New Zealand was already a world leader in refining flight operations to reduce its environmental impact and fuel burn long before rising fuel costs put the focus on fuel efficiency.

Over the four years from2004 until March 2008, Air New Zealand’s fuel saving initiatives have saved 97 million US gallons of fuel and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 90,963 tonnes. The airline is using 36 million litres less fuel on an annual basis delivering a saving of approximately $43 million each year.

The zonal dryers are part of a range of modifications to the current fleet planned through to 2010 that will produce further fuel and emission savings.

Captain Morgan says CTT’s zonal dryer technology delivers other benefits which strengthened the business case.

“Reducing fuel burn and emissions got our attention, but reducing moisture also improves the insulation’s effectiveness; it results in a healthier cabin environment and reduces the potential for corrosion.

“Once we had proved the range of benefits to our satisfaction the decision was obvious and we moved quickly to capture the benefits across our four jet aircraft fleets.”

Captain Morgan says each passenger exhales round 100 grams of water an hour and the cold outside temperatures at altitude generate significant condensation which is retained in the aircraft insulation.

“Installing these dryers will improve the environment both inside and outside the aircraft,” says Captain Morgan.

Air New Zealand will install CTT dryers throughout its Boeing 777, 767, 737 and Airbus A320 fleets.

ENDS

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