Climate Change and Tourism - UNEP - Division of Technology ...

148 Climate Change and Tourism – Responding to Global Challenges
biofuels. These relate to the sustainability and efficiency of production and increasing competition over
land, especially arable land area (see Box 29).
Air traffic management
Fuel reductions of up to 10% can be expected from improved operations and air traffic management
(ATM), mainly by reducing congestion and optimising flight paths. Optimisation of air traffic management
will be facilitated through new navigation systems such as the Galileo satellite navigation system being
developed in Europe. 675 The primary factor in optimization of ATM in Europe is overcoming the
political hurdles in getting a common system, such as realigning FIR boundaries. Also, achieving higher
load factors would decrease the emissions per pkm. Currently, load factors typically vary between
70–75% on international routes (and up to 90% for charter planes). Fuel use also depends on the
density of the seating, as more people carried in the same space will increase the overall weight of
the aircraft, but reduce per capita fuel use. Seating density can vary substantially. Boeing, for example,
offers the 777–300 with in between 368 to 500 seats. Low cost carriers and charter planes typically
have the highest seat densities, which can result in fuel reductions per seat kilometre of up to 20–30%.
In contrast, flying business-class (with ample space) is more carbon intense than flying economy class
due to the lower number of passengers carried. A recent study found that emissions in business and
first class are 133% and 250% higher, respectively, than those of economy class. 676 There is also a
noteworthy recent trend towards small, executive aircraft (hired or owned), which are even more carbon
intense than business- or first class.
Aircraft manufacturers pursue different concepts to improve service and fuel efficiency. Boeing is focusing
on point-to-point connections; i.e., longer non-stop flights with medium-sized aircraft (200–250 seats).
The use of advanced technologies means that Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner (rolled out in July 2007) is 20%
more fuel efficient at the same air speeds compared with today’s commercial jets. In contrast, Airbus
continues to build on the hub-and-spoke concept (i.e., the use of large aircraft from central airports,
to which passengers have to travel from smaller airports). Their A380, a double-decker aircraft with an
initial capacity on offer of 555 seats, has a non-stop range of 14,800 km to connect major hubs. Airbus
however also offers smaller aircraft, such as the A350XB.
Wider initiatives by the airline industry
Corporate social responsibility is taken up by more and more airlines. Airlines try to be as fuel efficient
as possible by continuously renewing their fleet, introducing fuel saving technologies; reducing engine–
on time when on the ground; reducing operating empty weight by removing excess amounts of water,
catering; choosing more efficient flight paths, etc. An increasing number of airlines also produce annual
environmental reports. 677, 678, 679
In their last Annual General Meeting in 2007, IATA outlines four challenges on their pathway to a ‘zero
emissions future’.
1. Air traffic management: IATA calls for a Single Sky for Europe, an efficient ‘Pearl River Delta’ in
China and a next generation air traffic system in the US, to be implemented by governments.
2. Technology: IATA calls on the aerospace industry to build a zero emissions aircraft in the next 50
years. Basic research on a zero-emissions aircraft should be coordinated.
3. A global approach: IATA asks the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and its 190
Member States to deliver a global emissions trading scheme that is fair, effective and available for
all governments to use on a voluntary basis.
4. Green businesses: IATA is developing ‘IATA Project Green’ to help airlines implement global best
practice Environmental Management Systems.
UNWTO, 9 July 2008