FORT WORTH, Texas, March 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines
yesterday announced at the Annual Medal of Honor Foundation Event
Luncheon that it has expanded its fuel conservation program, Fuel
Smart. The program is employee driven and contributes a
portion of savings generated to Air Compassion for Veterans (ACV),
totaling more than $3.5 million since
the partnership began in 2010.
ACV is a non-profit program that provides free air
transportation to injured veterans, active duty military and family
members traveling for medical, rehabilitative care and veteran's
programs.
The Fuel Smart announcement was made during a special luncheon
at Reagan National Airport honoring our nation's recipients of the
Medal of Honor in conjunction with National Medal of Honor Day
activities. Approximately 30 recipients and their guests arrived on
a charter flight courtesy of American Airlines from JFK Airport.
American Airlines has been a supporter of the Medal of Honor
Foundation and Society for the past five years. Medal of Honor
recipients receive complimentary Executive Platinum and Admirals
Club benefits.
"With more than 6,000 employees active and retired U.S. Military
and National Guard, we are honored to partner with Air Compassion
for Veterans to provide transportation for these wounded warriors
and their family members. Saving fuel through our Fuel Smart
program is not only good for the environment but it also benefits
an extremely worthy cause," said Tim
Campbell, American's senior vice president – Air
Operations.
"American's pilots are proud to be a part of the team supporting
our active military, veterans and their families," said Captain
Anthony Chapman, Allied Pilots
Association, Veterans Affairs.
"American's Ground and Tech Ops crews are honored to support Air
Compassion for Veterans through the Fuel Smart program," said
Peter Meyer, chairman of the TWU
Veteran's Committee and an Aircraft Maintenance Technician for
American Airlines. "Fleet service clerks help save fuel by
connecting electrical ground power and pre-conditioned air to the
aircraft as soon as it comes to the gate, so that the aircraft does
not rely on the fuel-consuming APU while passengers are boarding.
Our Tech Ops teams can also work to reduce APU usage by using
ground power and air instead of the APU while performing aircraft
maintenance. This can lead to incredible contributions for Air
Compassion for Veterans."
"APFA is pleased to learn that donations from American's revived
fuel conservation program will assist the men and women in uniform,
said Laura Glading, APFA National
President. "It's always an honor to welcome our military and their
families aboard."
American's Fuel Smart advocates were able to present ACV with an
initial donation of $100,000 at
yesterday's event.
Since the partnership launched in 2010, employees at American
participating in the Fuel Smart program have generated more than
$3.5 million dollars in donations for
ACV. ACV has provided more than 6,200 U.S. military and family
members air transportation on American for rehabilitative services.
Under the new Fuel Smart Program, employees will focus on
generating fuel savings by reducing Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)
usage. Reducing APU usage by 5% on average is estimated to result
in an annual $387,000 contribution to
ACV.
American's initial partnership with ACV began in 2010, when the
American Airlines Veterans Initiatives employee group helped ACV
arrange travel for wounded warriors and their family members.
Yesterday's announcement marks an expansion of that partnership,
with American committing to donate a portion of fuel savings from
combined American Airlines and US Airways fuel conservation
programs beginning April 1, 2015.
American Airlines has long-standing ties to the nation's armed
forces. With more than 6,000 employees who are active military or
veterans, the airline places a strong emphasis on its military and
veterans initiatives. American supports members of the military,
veterans and their families via in-kind contributions to nonprofit
organizations and through employee engagement in a diverse range of
events and activities throughout the year. This includes a wide
variety of military charities such as the USO, Air Compassion for
Veterans, Hero Miles, Snowball Express and charter flights for
Salute to the Troops and Seats for Soldiers. Through these and more
charitable efforts, American continues to help make a difference in
the lives of those serving our country.
For more information about the Medal of Honor Foundation, visit
CMOHFoundation.org. To learn more about the military charities that
American supports, visit American Airlines Giving.
About American Airlines Group
American Airlines Group
(NASDAQ: AAL) is the holding company for American Airlines and US
Airways. Together with wholly owned and third-party regional
carriers operating as American Eagle and US Airways Express, the
airlines operate an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to 339
destinations in 54 countries from its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort
Worth, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. The American
Airlines AAdvantage and US Airways Dividend Miles programs
allow members to earn miles for travel, vacation packages, car
rentals, hotel stays and everyday purchases. Members of both
programs can redeem miles for tickets as well as upgrades to First
Class and Business Class. In addition, AAdvantage members can
redeem miles for vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and
retail products. American is a founding member of
the oneworld alliance, whose members and members-elect
serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily flights to 150
countries. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at
Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.
About Air Compassion for Veterans
Air Compassion for
Veterans® (ACV) is a national nonprofit charitable organization
committed to the ongoing healing process of our nation's ill and
injured veterans, active duty military, and adversely-affected
family members. ACV provides free air transportation to ensure that
these deserving warriors receive the finest medical and
rehabilitative care available.
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SOURCE American Airlines