Nature Air is a Costa Rica-based airline committed to minimizing environmental impact and providing memorable travel experiences. It operates 74 daily flights between 15 destinations in Central America. Nature Air voluntarily offsets its carbon emissions through forest conservation projects. It aims to open new regions to sustainable tourism and offer reliable air service. Nature Air also supports local communities through its Nature Kids foundation and green initiatives like using biodiesel. It has received several awards for its leadership in carbon neutral aviation.

2. Table of Contents
*Click on title to jump to page
The Mission ......................................... 3
History ................................................... 4
Getting There .................................... 6
The Green Airline ............................ 8
Redefining Air Travel .................... 9
Nature Vacations ........................... 10
Nature Kids ...................................... 11
Membership Organizations
and Awards ..................................... 12

3. The Mission
To create memorable experiences for passengers in a reliable, innovative and fun airline during their travels in
Central America
Based in San Jose, Costa Rica, Nature Air has always considered itself to be more than an airline, more like a
travel company with wings. The company is seriously commitment to minimizing any kind of negative impact
their operations might have on the environment and local communities.
Nature Air voluntarily compensates 100% of its carbon emissions, through the preservation of tropical forests.
The company offsets more than 6,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually and uses carbon credits to help conserve
Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, one of the most biologically diverse regions in the country. Since 2004, Nature Air
has helped protect more than 300 hectares of privately owned bio-corridors in the region. In addition, Nature
Air keeps their carbon output down by revising their operations, scheduling and flight plans.
The company is committed to opening up new destinations to tourism and offering both international travel-
ers and local residents the opportunity to travel quickly and safely between 15 exciting destinations in Costa
Rica, Nicaragua and Panama.

4. History
before...
More than ten years ago, no reliable airlines existed in Costa Rica or Central America serving adventure travel
destinations. Service was often slow, chaotic and inconvenient for international and regional tourists. Whole
communities were essentially cut off from the world in certain seasons due to flooding and road disrepair. Many
of these communities housed beautiful ecosystems and natural wonders, making them the perfect beneficiaries
for sustainable tourism projects. The conditions were ripe for a new airline.
Travel Air was founded by two Alaskan bush pilots in 1990. The original owners had a handful of routes to se-
lect tourist destinations in Costa Rica. Meanwhile, a consulting company called Naturegate out of San Francisco
frequently found itself working on sustainable tourism projects in the region. The Naturegate team knew from
personal experience that road travel was long, arduous and even dangerous. They also struggled with the viability
of tourism projects in beautiful destinations that lacked adequate transportation infrastructure.

5. History
... and after
In 2000, when working on one of these projects, the CEO of Naturegate Alex Khajav, discovered Travel Air was
for sale. With more than 25 years in tourism, the Khajavi family sold their homes, packed their bags and moved
to Costa Rica permanently to run the newly named – Nature Air.
Since the first year they have gone from flying 18,000 passengers annually to more than 110,000 in 2010. Growth
has been at more than 35% annually compounded, and one of the fastest growth rates in Latin America.
With Nature Air at the lead, the NatureGroup has grown to include an eco-tourism consulting firm that worked
on projects like the Desarollo Papagayo, the oldest Flight Academy in Latin America, the largest travel magazine
in the region, the NatureKids Foundation that gives families the tools they need to better their futures, and Na-
ture Vacations, the group’s travel division that features personalized travel itineraries to the region.

6. Getting There
Nature Air offers 74 daily flights to 15 exciting destina-
tion in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. As an in-
novative airline with strong ties to the tourism industry,
Nature Air is always adding new routes to their roster.
In May 2005, Nature Air began operating daily flights
to the Arenal Volcano, the most visited destination
in Costa Rica. This flight was a watershed moment in
tourism for the Arenal region. In December 2010, they
launched a new inter-destination route connecting the
beach town of Quepos directly to Arenal.
In keeping with the adage, “The journey is half the
fun,” planes are painted in vivid colors reflecting tropi-
cal destinations. Nature Air’s planes are roomy, climate
controlled and deliver a smoother ride than smaller
aircrafts. Their large, flat, panoramic windows allow un-
obstructed views of active volcanoes, tropical waterfalls
and even simultaneous views of the Pacific and Atlantic
oceans.
In March 2011, the airline launched its second interna-
tional route connecting Liberia and Managua, Nicara-
gua

7. Getting There

8. The Green Airline
Nature Air’s participation in the government sponsored
carbon sequestration program, FONAFIFO, made
them the first carbon neutral airline in the world. The
airline keeps its carbon output down by improvements
made in their operations, scheduling and flight plans.
Their fleet includes 5 DeHaviland Twin Otters, a sturdy,
sight-seeing aircraft perfect for the rough conditions of
some of the more remote landing strips, which provides
the least intrusive way to journey through environmen-
tally sensitive areas. Studies show Nature Air outputs as
much carbon dioxide in a year compared to what one
commercial flight outputs in 10 days flying between
New York and London.
100% of Nature Air’s carbon emissions are compensated through the protection and reforestation of essential
bio-corridors in southern Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. Nature Air pays for third party audits to be conducted of
the land to ensure that these forests are being conserved and protected. In addition, Nature Air has met with
and encouraged other airlines to participate in this program as a way of using tourism and transportation to
protect the destinations to which they serve and benefit from.
Nature Air’s sustainable projects are ongoing. The airline’s ground transportation is all fueled from recycled veg-
etable oil and the company is currently researching alternative fuel sources for their company, including ethanol
and pig waste.

9. Redefining Air Travel
NatureAir’s commitment to quality of service is clearly demonstrated by the way they have structured their
programs; not from the perspective of a business owner, but from that of a traveler.
• In 2004 Alex Khajavi and his family turned Nature Air 100% carbon neutral. They placed safety, reliability
and the comfort of passengers as their top priority.
• Every year the company works to improve its flight plans in order to optimize fuel usage by nearly 9% since
2004. Their strong dedication to service has resulted in a 94 percent on-time performance, which is unheard of
in the region.
• Nature Air also opened more destinations to adventure travelers than ever before. Destinations that used to
take eight hours to drive to, can now be reached via Nature Air in only 45 minutes! This allows travelers to have
more fun, add more destinations to their itinerary, and spend more valuable time at the destinations instead of
on the road.
Nature Air offers a truly unique experience to their travelers. Not only do their over-sized Vistaliner windows
and low flying-altitude offer breathtaking views of the region’s varied landscapes, they also get clients to iden-
tify with the brand by knowing they aren’t leaving a Carbon footprint on their journey. Emissions from ground
transportation are also compensated, while offices enjoy energy-saver light bulbs, systems to avoid paper waste
and recycling. The company’s efforts prove that an airline can help the environment rather than harm it.

10. Nature Vacations
Costa Rica has been named one of the world’s most popular travel hot spots. To better serve tourists in the re-
gions it serves, Nature Air formed its own eco-focused vacations department – Nature Vacations. (www.nature-
vacations.com). Nature Vacations guides and educates travelers about all the natural wonders and eco-lodges in
Costa Rica awaiting their discovery. The travel designers live, work and play in Costa Rica! They can share first-
hand experience and local advice. Let them recreate the sounds made by Macaws or howler monkeys overhead,
or the colors of the setting sun that can be seen from your hotel balcony overlooking the canopy rainforest as it
touches the Pacific.
Nature Vacations creates unique itineraries to help you best uncover the wonders of the region, including a 100%
carbon neutral itinerary that includes offsets for all carbon emitted during your stay. The package includes guid-
ed nature walks, jungle tours, sustainable accommodations at some of the most unique boutique hotels in Costa
Rica, domestic airfare by Nature Air, and all transfers in the biodiesel-run Nature Van.

11. Nature Kids
Nature Air places equal emphasis on commer-
cial success and social responsibility. Studies in-
dicate that English speakers in Costa Rica earn
on average 40 percent more income across all
industries. In 2003 Nature Air created Nature
Kids – a non-profit foundation that provides
low-income children and families the tools they
need to adapt to the ever-changing economic
climate.
Nature Kids currently operates an English
language school in Drake Bay on the Osa Pen-
insula. More than 60 students receive twice-
weekly English and computing courses as well
as targeted educational workshops.
In 2007, the Nature Kids Foundation initiated efforts to clean up water in smaller communities and collect and
recycle garbage. Environmental lessons are also given to the children to help install sustainable practices in the
younger generations.

12. Membership Organizations
and Awards
NatureAir is a member of several environmental organizations through which it also educates both travelers
and industry of its program, these include:
• International Ecotourism Society
• Rainforest Alliance
• World Heritage Alliance
• IATA
• American Society of Travel Agent
• International Civil Aviation Organization
• ICT Tourism Association
• CANATUR
• ACOPROT
In November 2007 Nature Air was given a highly commended recognition as the “best mode of low-carbon
transportation and technology” at the 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards at the World Travel
Market. In June 2007 Nature Air was recognized by the International Community for Ecotourism for being
the first airline to voluntarily compensate 100% of its carbon emissions, through the conservation of tropical
forests. In May 2008 Nature Air become the first airline in 20 years to be honored at the Rainforest Alliance
annual Sustainable Innovator Awards in the Corporate Sustainable Standard-Setters category. The airline won
National Geographic’s Geotoursim Award in 2009 and was deemed top airline in all categories in Conde
Nast Traveler’s World Savers Awards in 2010.

13. Media Contacts
North America Costa Rica
Matt Minich Claire Saylor
Account Manager Marketing Director
Adventure Media Nature Air
www.adventuremedianews.com www.natureair.com
(O) 970-568-7423 (O) +506-2549-7561
(C) 970-290-6272 (Toll free) 1-800-235-9272
matt@adventuremedianews.com csaylor@naturegroup.net