United on environmental trail

The industry-wide campaign to protect the environment took another step last week with United Airlines committing US$40m (about £31m) toward a new investment vehicle focused on accelerating the development of sustainable aviation fuels and other decarbonisation technologies.

The carrier, which earlier this year agreed to buy up to 10m gallons of sustainable aviation fuel over the next two years, says it will look to collaborate with other environmentally-conscious partners on the initiative.

Among all airlines around the world, United holds more than 50% of all publicly announced purchase commitments to using sustainable aviation fuels and is the only US carrier currently using this fuel on a continuous basis.

In other developments, United released details of how it is extending its Polaris premium-cabin product (below) to the Boeing B787 Dreamliner fleet, with the first aircraft now being fitted out and expected to be in service before Christmas.

All 37 aircraft with the airline are set to be reconfigured with the new cabin by the first quarter of 2021, while 13 new B787-9s to be delivered to United next year will arrive with Polaris already fitted.

■ In more good news for Polaris passengers between New York Newark and Heathrow, United on Friday launched with Marriott International what it claims is the travel industry's first free baggage delivery from the airport to five Marriott hotels.

www.united.com/londonbagdelivery

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