(The Jakarta Post) - Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia signed Tuesday an MoU on reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector with the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The MoU on carbon offset was signed by Garuda president director Emirsyah Satar  and IATA director general and CEO Giovanni Bisignani at IATA’s Green Pavilion on the first day of the 2010 Singapore Airshow at the Changi  Convention Center.

Emirsyah said the MoU would enable passengers to decide whether or not to pay to cover their own the carbon footprint for their flight when booking online on the Garuda website.  Once fully implemented, the program would allow passengers to calculate the compensation required, the volume of reduced CO2 emissions needed and available emission reduction activities.

Emirsyah said the airline and IATA had been talking on the carbon offset program since mid-2009.  "Garuda is the 15th airlines to participate in the initiative," he said.

For the Jakarta Post article, visit:
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/02/03/garuda-iata-sign-mou-carbon-emission-cuts.html

For more information about the IATA Carbon Offset Program, visit:
http://www.iata.org/pressroom/facts_figures/fact_sheets/carbon-offsets.htm