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Viewing Are We Enjoying Cheap Flights at Cost to the Environment?Are We Enjoying Cheap Flights at Cost to the Environment?
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While the public enjoys cheap air travel, the backlash against companies providing the services has been fierce. Many have predicted that aviation emissions will soon rise to 15%. A target to make planes 50% more fuel-efficient by 2020 is in place. By Matthew Pressman Low-cost airline companies have been incredibly successful over the past few years, but their success relies on being able to offer a large number of flights, which unfortunately for the environment equates to larger quantities of CO2 emissions contributing to climate change. While the general public enjoys the convenience of cheap air travel, the backlash against the companies providing the services has been fierce, even prompting British Environmental Minister Ian Pearson to brand several low cost airlines 'not just the unacceptable face of capitalism ... (but) the irresponsible face of capitalism.' In the face of such criticism, low-cost airlines have been quick to point out that long-haul flight companies and other transport pollutants such as cars are a far bigger threat to the environment than their flights. The fact remains however, that while one 800-mile journey from Stansted to Rome in a Boeing 737 produces 27 tonnes of CO2, governmental authorities on climate change have estimated that the aviation industry contributes just 3% to total worldwide emissions, compared to the 25% pumped out by power stations. Many have predicted that aviation emissions will soon rise to 15%, due to aviation being one of the few sources of greenhouse gases that are growing, with the government predicting that air travel will triple during the next thirty years. In light of these predictions, a target to make planes 50% more fuel-efficient by 2020 is in place. Scoffed at by some, this target isn't out of the realms of possibility, with the airline industry pointing out that planes now are 70% more fuel efficient than they were in the 60's. Planes can also be built bigger, with Airbus stating that their new A380 plane burns 13% less fuel than a 747. Despite the data being thrown back and forth between the aviation industry and the government, environmentalists argue that no matter what solutions are thought up, nothing will diminish the public's desire to fly. Some have commented that the only way to solve the problem is simply to make the cost of flying more expensive, with the Aviation Environment Federation suggesting that every passenger pay an extra £34 per 700 miles they fly. The aviation industry was quick to rebuke this idea, stating that it would be detrimental to the British economy, revealing that air travel contributes around £14billion to the country every year. So what does the future hold for air travel companies and the customers who use them? Early indications certainly suggest that the cost of flying will rise, while flights in Europe will come under the jurisdiction of the Emissions Trading Scheme by 2011, with airlines being issued with pollution permits. Fines will be charged to airlines exceeding their emission limit while green airlines that lower their carbon emissions will be able to sell back their permits. The pressure is now on airlines to come up with new technology to make air travel more environmentally sound in the future. About the Author: Matthew Pressman is a freelance writer and frequent flyer. When not traveling, he enjoys golf and fishing. Article source: 111 Travel Directory: Triple1.com (triple one dot com) More free articles: 1st Rate Articles - 1stRateArticles.com |
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