"Climate-heating emissions from aviation could be slashed in half without reducing passenger journeys by getting rid of premium seats, ensuring flights are near full and using the most efficient aircraft, according to analysis. These efficiency measures could be far more effective in tackling the fast-growing carbon footprint of flying than pledges to use sustainable fuels or controversial carbon offsets, the researchers said."
"They believe their study, which analysed more than 27m commercial flights out of approximately 35m in 2023, is the first to assess the variation in operational efficiency of flights across the globe. The amount of carbon dioxide per kilometre flown has been falling as aircraft become gradually more fuel efficient. However, the growth in the number of flights has far outstripped this, meaning the emissions helping to fuel the climate crisis are rising."
Eliminating premium seats, ensuring flights are near full and using the most efficient aircraft could halve aviation carbon dioxide emissions without cutting passenger journeys. Data covered more than 27 million commercial flights out of approximately 35 million in 2023, revealing substantial variation in operational efficiency worldwide. Carbon dioxide per kilometre has fallen as aircraft improve fuel efficiency, but rapid growth in flight numbers has driven overall emissions upward, with aviation emissions potentially doubling or tripling by 2050. Less efficient flights are common at many US and Australian smaller airports and in parts of Africa and the Middle East; India, Brazil and south-east Asia show lower-polluting patterns. Major hubs such as Atlanta and New York run almost 50% less efficient flights than airports like Abu Dhabi and Madrid. International mechanisms include the UN’s Corsia offset scheme, which has not required carbon-credit use, and the EU’s 2030 target for 6% sustainable aviation fuel amid limited and costly supply.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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