Blazing Trails in Costa Rica for Sustainable Travel

    SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA, March 04, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The NatureGroup of companies, including NatureAir and NatureVacations, again is leading the travel industry on the quest to be greener by kicking off the very first Costa Rican alternative fueling station through its own aviation fueling company, Aerotica. Since June 2008, Aerotica has been offering biodiesel in addition to aviation gas and jet fuel. The biodiesel is from 100% recycled vegetable oil and can be used in any ground vehicle that runs on regular diesel. NatureAir, NatureVacations, and Aerotica (both fuel company and the flight school), use only biodiesel for all diesel ground or fleet vehicles. These include airplane tugs, fuel trucks, delivery trucks, and vans. Even employees are able to purchase biodiesel for their personal diesel vehicles. NatureVacations clients, when being transferred by ground, enjoy comfort and style in Mercedes vans powered by 100% biodiesel.

Currently, the airline purchases the refined biodiesel from a local provider, and the supply is complemented by used cooking oil brought in from the homes of NatureAir employees. Some employees have visited local restaurants to increase the amount collected, thus saving even more used oil from entering rivers. NatureAir supplies the receptacles with small filters free of charge to employees. A program to increase the amount collected is being developed to incorporate local school cafeterias and more restaurants. Additionally, the ability to sell biodiesel on a retail basis in the future is being analyzed.

While not directly involved in the costly development of a sustainable aviation fuel, the airline is cautiously optimistic that there will be a viable alternative fuel in the next five years. Based on its commitments to the environment at present, it is certain this company will be at the head of the line for their fleet. NatureAir continues to be dedicated to being the world's most environmentally friendly airline, in spite of the very difficult challenges in this current marketplace.
"This program is an important milestone in NatureAir's dedication to protecting the environment and conserving our natural resources," said NatureAir Founder and CEO Alex E. Khajavi. "We wanted to do something beyond our carbon-neutrality airline program. The world's natural resources are precious and this alternative fuel program is a step in the right direction to keeping our air and waters healthy."

For more information on NatureAir and its subsidiary companies, and the sustainable practices they pioneer, visit http://blog.natureair.com/.

About Nature Vacations Costa Rica

Nature Vacations Costa Rica is the premier travel agency of NatureAir.com, the first carbon neutral airline in the world. For further information, please contact us at: 011-506-2521-5226 Ext.1010 (Costa Rica Direct) or 888-280-9734 Ext.1010 (USA/CAN) or send us an email to [email protected]

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