The Abu Dhabi airline’s Economy Space product offers economy seats with extra legroom. Etihad is vowing to make every Economy Space passenger’s journey carbon neutral “over time”.

The move is part of the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative and the airline’s Etihad Forest programme, which aims to improve biodiversity, wildlife and environmental protection through establishing a network of mangrove and other forests in Abu Dhabi and around the world.

The mangrove forest project, launched in February, aims to plant 182,000 trees by the first quarter of 2023 – mangrove trees remove up to four times more CO2 from the air than other tropical forests.

Etihad will plant one mangrove tree in Abu Dhabi for each Economy Space seat purchased on its flights.

Mariam Al Qubaisi, head of sustainability at Etihad Aviation Group, said: “In addition to our own sustainability ambitions, we made a commitment to helping our guests and partners to travel more sustainably and empower them to make conscious choices. 

“With the latest evolution of our sustainability programme to plant a mangrove on behalf of every guest who books an Economy Space seat, we’re simplifying the process so anyone can travel sustainably.”

Every traveller booking an Economy Space seat will receive confirmation of their gifted mangrove in the Etihad Forest within 10 days of flying. From the email link, guests can track, virtually visit and see photos of their tree. 

Passengers in other cabins can also take part in the Etihad Forest initiative using Etihad Guest Miles in the Reward Shop.