Maga Ramasamy, President of the World Airlines Clubs Association.
The World Airlines Clubs Association (WACA) held its 55th General Assembly in Mauritius last week under the theme ‘Responsible and Sustainable Travelism’ – a topic that is all the more relevant as the travel industry recovers from the years of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns. One of the key points discussed was the shift towards the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by airlines and its environmental benefits. The event, which brought together members from several countries, highlighted the environmental and social initiatives promoted by the organisation. In addition, critical issues such as combating food waste, reducing the use of plastic and protecting children from exploitation were discussed. According to Maga Ramasamy, President of WACA, Mauritius is positioning itself as a model of sustainability in the aviation industry.
Given the theme of the 55th Annual General Meeting, “Responsible and Sustainable Travelism”, how has WACA addressed the challenges and exploited the opportunities related to sustainable aviation fuel?
Sustainable aviation fuel is one of the main topics we focused on during this conference. We also had speakers to address this issue. TheInternational Civil Aviation Organization and theInternational Air Transport Association (IATA) both support this initiative. So, by 2050, we are aiming for about 50% implementation of the SAF method for fuel. Mauritius, being a small island state, must definitely take this aspect into account. At WACA, we have clearly highlighted this to support IATA, which already has its roadmap, so that SAF becomes a reality, mainly in this region of the world.
We want to instill a sense of responsibility in everyone. We want responsible travellers. If we have responsible travellers, they will be inclined to offset their carbon emissions, as credits that they can offer, so that we can increase research and development in the industry and get better methods. SAF, for example, is one of the aspects that we want to promote so that the aviation industry uses less fuel and that it is sustainable fuel.
What is WACA’s vision on the role of Mauritius in promoting sustainable tourism and aviation practices?
WACA, as a global organisation, obviously sees that Mauritius has been labelled a sustainable island and we really want to promote our concept. We tell all our members that travel is an opportunity to make a difference. How do we make that difference? Mainly through environmental protection and by incorporating a social aspect. By ‘social’ we mean supporting the local community, encouraging local tourism and helping the children of society. At WACA, we are also members of CODE (Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism). We raise awareness wherever we go. So wherever WACA goes, we integrate the environmental and social aspect into our approach.
What changes have you noticed thanks to these awareness campaigns?
By raising awareness among our members, they become ambassadors for the airlines by promoting this concept. We strive to be present at every forum and ensure that our voice is heard for the protection of the environment and children from sexual exploitation. This includes commercial exploitation and human trafficking. As a responsible association of the airline industry, we are committed to eliminating human trafficking and educating our members so that they can identify any trafficking situation around them.
Given that the Indian Ocean Islands Interline Club is organising the AGM, what specific sustainable travel initiatives or programmes from this region were highlighted at the conference?
This is the use of zero plastic. We did not use any plastic during the conference.
In what ways does WACA plan to improve global collaboration between airline clubs to promote responsible travel practices?
At WACA we support theIndian Ocean Islands Interline Club and all clubs around the world. By doing so, we ensure that IATA, as the umbrella body, understands what we do as a supporting association in the industry. Our meeting notes and deliberations at the meeting will be distributed to all our members, who will share them with their respective airlines.
What emerging trends in responsible and sustainable travel does WACA foresee over the next five years?
The first thing is zero plastic. We ensure that on board an aircraft, the use of plastic is reduced and that we do not waste food. Food waste is a major problem in the airline industry and we see that a lot of food is lost. We conducted a survey with two of our consultants from the University of Kassel in Germany and found that responsible passengers do not want to waste food. We need to put in place a control system: when booking, passengers can choose from a list of food items. We also need to be a responsible organisation to attract conscious travellers. For example, we encourage every airport to install drinking water dispensers, allowing people to refill their bottles instead of buying plastic bottles. It is essential to ban plastic bottles at the airport so that passengers can use stainless steel bottles and refill them on the spot.
If we compare Air Mauritius to other airlines that are also committed to sustainability actions, where do we stand?
Unfortunately, there is still a lot to learn, that is a fact. It is crucial to avoid greenwashing. We must approach these actions with passion and integrity. It is not enough to follow criteria just for the sake of it; it is essential that our efforts are authentic and thoughtful. We must be careful in this regard.
