NEWS 2020

ZeroAvia to partner with British Airways on hydrogen power and secures UK funding towards HyFlyer project

2020-12-18T09:43:29Z

Fri 18 Dec 2020 - British Airways (BA) is to partner with ZeroAvia on an initiative to explore how hydrogen-powered aircraft can play a role in the future of sustainable flight. Following its world-first hydrogen fuel cell powered flight of a commercial-size aircraft in September, ZeroAvia is planning the commercialisation of hydrogen-electric power for aircraft as early as 2023 with flights of up to 500 miles (800 km) in a 19-seater aircraft under its HyFlyer II project. Based in London and California, ZeroAvia has just secured a £12.3 million ($16.3m) grant towards the project from the UK government through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). The company has also raised a further £16 million ($21.4m) in Series A venture funding. The BA partnership will be part of parent company IAG’s Hangar 51 accelerator programme.

Public contributions to Fly Green Fund allows delivery of sustainable aviation fuel to three Swedish airports

2020-12-17T11:54:56Z

Thu 17 Dec 2020 - The Fly Green Fund, a non-profit Swedish initiative offering businesses, public organisations and private travellers a means to reduce the climate impact of their flights through the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), has delivered nearly 46 tons of SAF to three airports in Sweden. The fuel was purchased from Air BP and produced from 100 per cent renewable waste and residue raw materials by Neste in Finland. With a lifecycle emissions reduction of 80 per cent compared with the conventional jet fuel it replaces, the fuel is certified by ISCC, which guarantees it meets the criteria of the EU's Renewable Energy Directive. The Fly Green Fund was founded in 2015 by Karlstad Airport, SkyNRG and NISA (Nordic Initiative for Sustainable Aviation), and with this year’s delivery it has so far imported over 1,400 tons of SAF to Sweden since 2016.

Major European air cargo carriers launch SAF initiatives for shippers and forwarders to offset their emissions

2020-12-17T04:25:29Z

Thu 17 Dec 2020 - Air France KLM Martinair Cargo has launched what it claims is the world's first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) programme for the airfreight industry that will enable freight forwarders and shippers to participate in reducing aviation CO2 emissions. Based on a 'book and claim' system, forwarders and shippers contribute to offsetting emissions from flights through the use of SAF. Customers determine their own level of engagement with the programme and their entire investment is used for sourcing SAF. Lufthansa Cargo has launched a similar initiative in which customers can have the CO2 emissions of their shipments calculated during the booking process, which they can then offset through Lufthansa Group's Compensaid platform and the funds used to purchase SAF. As a result of a collaboration with DB Schenker, the first flights to be covered by the use of SAF took place in late November on a return Lufthansa Cargo flight between Frankfurt and Shanghai.

Etihad Airways first Gulf airline to commit to 2050 net zero target and launches carbon offset programme

2020-12-15T11:19:46Z

Tue 15 Dec 2020 - UAE national airline Etihad Airways has pledged to reduce its CO2 emissions to 50 per cent of 2019 levels by 2035 and achieve full net zero emissions by 2050, which it claims is a first for a Gulf airline and the first in the industry to set a mid-point target towards carbon neutrality. In initial steps towards the goal, Etihad has committed to neutralise the CO2 emissions of its flagship 'Greenliner' 787-10 aircraft for a full year of operations in 2021. Separately, the airline will implement an additional voluntary offset programme for passengers via its website booking platform in 2021. Etihad recently launched the first ever aviation 'transition sukuk', a form of Islamic sustainability-linked finance, raising $600 million that will support investment in next-generation aircraft and tied to performance in reaching the airline’s carbon reduction targets. In other Gulf news, Emirates has used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the first time to power an A380 delivery flight.

ICAO completes final building blocks for implementing CORSIA carbon scheme ahead of pilot phase start

2020-12-14T11:11:25Z

Mon 14 Dec 2020 - ICAO's governing Council has adopted decisions on eligible carbon emissions units and sustainability certification schemes for eligible fuels that the UN agency says are the final building blocks for the CORSIA carbon offsetting mechanism for international aviation, which formally starts next month. At its 221st session, the Council accepted recommendations from its Technical Advisory Body (TAB) on a second set of eligible emissions units (EEUs) for use with offsetting requirements in the initial 2021-2023 pilot phase of CORSIA. This includes the approval of the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) to supply airlines with national and subnational (jurisdictional) forestry protection carbon credits. ART was the only new second-round applicant to be recommended for immediate eligibility to supply CORSIA EEUs. RSB and ISCC have been approved as sustainability certification schemes for CORSIA eligible fuels.

United Airlines commits to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 through carbon capture technology investment

2020-12-10T14:17:23Z

Thu 10 Dec 2020 - United Airlines has ramped up its 2018 pledge to cut its net greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050 by announcing a new ambitious commitment to a 100 per cent reduction by the same year. In an industry first, the US airline says it will meet its carbon neutrality goal through a multimillion-dollar investment in Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology rather than purchasing carbon credits to offset residual emissions. The investment is being made in 1PointFive, a partnership between Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, a subsidiary of Occidental, and Rusheen Capital Management, which is using technology licensed from Carbon Engineering in the first industrial-sized DAC plant in the United States. United has already invested $30 million in sustainable aviation fuel producer Fulcrum BioEnergy, the single largest investment in SAF production by any airline globally.

UK's climate advisers recommend no net airport expansion without aviation industry progress to net zero

2020-12-09T11:14:39Z

Wed 9 Dec 2020 - There should be no net expansion of UK airport capacity unless the sector is on track to sufficiently outperform its net emissions trajectory and can accommodate the additional demand, says the UK's Climate Change Committee (CCC). In a major report on recommended policies to achieve the UK's overall net zero emissions by 2050 target, the CCC says demand management will be required to constrain UK aviation growth to 25 per cent growth by 2050 from 2018 levels unless efficiency and sustainable aviation fuel take-up can be developed quicker than expected. The Committee recommends emissions from international aviation be included in UK carbon budgets and the net zero target by next year. The UK should also work with ICAO to set a long-term emissions goal consistent with the Paris Agreement, strengthen CORSIA and align the scheme to this goal in 2023.

New Zealand's Christchurch Airport first to be certified at ACI's higher transformation carbon accreditation level

2020-12-03T11:53:36Z

Thu 3 Dec 2020 - Christchurch Airport in New Zealand has become the third airport in the world to reach the new higher level 4 certification of airport industry's Airport Carbon Accreditation voluntary programme. Whereas Dallas Fort Worth and New Delhi Indira Gandhi airports have been recognised at Level 4+ Transition, Christchurch is the first airport to achieve Level 4 Transformation. The new levels have been brought in by airports body ACI to reflect airport carbon reduction targets that are aligned with the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. To attain this accreditation, Christchurch has been required to address broader emissions in its carbon footprint that include all the significant operational sources on and off site, as well as demonstrate evidence of actively engaging and leading its stakeholders towards delivering emissions reductions.

EASA report on aviation's non-CO2 climate impacts highlights need for policy decisions and more research

2020-12-03T05:11:40Z

Thu 3 Dec 2020 - Tasked by the European Commission to conduct an update on the non-CO2 effects of aviation on climate change, Europe's regulatory agency EASA has issued a report that highlights the latest understanding of the science and suggests technological, operational, policy and financial tools to address the issue. In addition to CO2, aircraft emit a wide variety of gases and aerosols at cruising altitude that influence climate directly and indirectly. The analysis confirms their significance is at least as important as those of CO2 alone, although the complexity of measuring non-CO2 climate impacts, together with the uncertainty regarding trade-offs between the various impacts, makes targeted policy development in this area challenging, say the authors. However, potential policies suggested include a levy on aircraft NOx emissions and/or the inclusion of such emissions under the EU ETS, and mandatory use of cleaner burning sustainable aviation fuels.

IATA launches carbon exchange for airlines to access and trade offsets for CORSIA and voluntary requirements

2020-11-27T06:36:31Z

Fri 27 Nov 2020 - IATA has formally launched the Aviation Carbon Exchange (ACE), a platform for airlines and other aviation stakeholders to offset their carbon footprint by purchasing credits in certified projects. Carbon reduction programmes on ACE include forestry projects, clean wind energy operations, protection of eco-systems and remote community-based projects to cut emissions. The platform has been under development since the beginning of the year and is aimed at providing a tool for airlines in fulfilling their offsetting obligations starting in 2021 under the ICAO CORSIA scheme. The impact of Covid-19 on the airline industry and a change to the CORSIA baseline means offsetting under the scheme is now unlikely to be required for at least several years but ACE will still be open to airlines wanting to invest in voluntary offsets. ACE was developed in conjunction with commodities trader Xpansiv CBL Holding Group and US carrier JetBlue has completed the first trade.

Sustainability to be at core of airport sector recovery plans as ACI adds levels to its CO2 programme

2020-11-20T06:12:05Z

Fri 20 Nov 2020 - Representing nearly 2,000 airports worldwide, trade association ACI World has adopted a resolution at its annual assembly that recognises climate change requires global collaboration and action, and adaptation and resilience should be key issues included in airport recovery plans despite the Covid pandemic. Opportunities should be identified to 'build back better' by keeping sustainability and resilience at the core of recovery strategies, says the resolution. A survey conducted by ACI in 2019 found almost 70 per cent of airport operators who responded reported they had already been impacted by adverse weather patterns and conditions. Meanwhile, at ACI Europe's annual congress, two further levels were unveiled of the industry's Airport Carbon Accreditation programme that require airports to align their carbon management strategies and plans with the ambition of the Paris Agreement.

EU aviation sector calls for policy support and investment to help achieve carbon neutrality by 2050

2020-11-19T09:18:49Z

Thu 19 Nov 2020 - Over 20 European aviation and travel associations have called for a joint commitment between industry and policymakers to achieve net zero CO2 emissions from all flights within and departing from the EU by 2050. As signatories to an 'Aviation Round Table Report', they have urged EU leaders to join and actively support an 'EU Pact for Sustainable Aviation' by the end of 2021 by contributing to a policy and financial framework they see as vital to enable the aviation sector to deliver on its sustainability commitments. The report details ways aviation can recover from the Covid-19 crisis whilst supporting the EU's Green Deal objectives and build a greener, socially and economically robust future. These include an EU legislative framework on sustainable aviation fuels, funding and investment for low-carbon aircraft innovations and an incentive scheme for fleet renewal. The sector is also looking for EU aid in recovering from the pandemic.

Microsoft, Alaska Airlines and SkyNRG partner to reduce business flight emissions through SAF purchase

2020-11-13T13:49:35Z

Fri 13 Nov 2020 - Microsoft, Alaska Airlines and SkyNRG have entered into agreements whereby employees of the software giant will have the CO2 emissions from their air travel between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and three West Coast destinations reduced through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) credits purchased from SkyNRG. The funds from the credits will be used by SkyNRG to supply SAF produced by World Energy in California and delivered to the airport fuelling system used by Alaska Airlines. The three companies hope the partnership, the first of its kind in the United States, will serve as a model for other companies and organisations that are committed to reducing the environmental impact of business air travel. They said they would explore expanding the programme in the future and are supporting the development of a global environmental accounting standard for voluntary corporate SAF purchases.

Japan's ANA becomes Neste's first Asian airline customer and starts SAF-fuelled flights from Tokyo

2020-11-11T10:18:36Z

Wed 11 Nov 2020 - Finnish sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer Neste, which has ambitions to becoming one of the world's biggest suppliers to the sector, has signed its first agreement with an Asian airline. The mid-to-long term collaboration with All Nippon Airways (ANA) started with SAF-fuelled commercial flights from Tokyo's Haneda and Narita airports late last month. On November 6, an ANA flight from Haneda to Houston, Texas, was the first international commercial flight departing from Japan to use SAF. The delivery of SAF was made possible through a collaboration and logistics coordination between Neste and the Japanese trading house Itochu Corporation. The fuel from Neste is made from sustainably sourced renewable waste and residue raw materials.

Qatar Airways launches passenger carbon offset programme in partnership with IATA and ClimateCare

2020-11-10T04:17:52Z

Tue 10 Nov 2020 - Qatar Airways has launched a voluntary carbon offset programme for passengers in partnership with IATA and ClimateCare. The programme has been developed through IATA's Carbon Offset Program, which aims to bring standardisation to airline passenger offset programmes and share best practice in the structure and implementation of carbon offsetting. The IATA programme has been independently audited and approved by the Quality Assurance Standard (QAS), which the airline body says is the world's highest standard for carbon offsetting, with IATA being one of only four organisations worldwide to meet this standard. Contributions from the Qatar Airways programme will be directed to the Fatanpur Wind Farm project in India, which generates and supplies clean energy with a combined output of 108 MW to the Indian National Grid, avoiding around 210,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

US environmental groups say proposal by EPA to adopt rules equivalent to ICAO Aircraft CO2 standards is illegal

2020-11-09T09:08:56Z

Mon 9 Nov 2020 - US environmental groups say the proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to adopt the ICAO CO2 standards for aircraft into US regulations violates the nation's Clean Air Act because it fails to reduce greenhouse gas emissions despite the EPA's findings that such emissions endanger public health and welfare. Moreover, they say, the proposal's failure to consider the statutory factors laid out in the Act or analyse the costs and benefits of a range of possible emission standards, and refusal to select an alternative based on the evidence before the agency was "arbitrary and capricious". The groups were responding to a public comment period just closed on the proposal, which has been largely supported by US aerospace and airline sectors. Although the majority of aircraft will not be subject to the standards until January 2028, the industry is calling for finalisation of its domestic adoption by the end of this year.

Covid-19 underscores global need to combat global animal smuggling in aviation, says report

2020-10-28T14:35:18Z

Wed 28 Oct 2020 - While there is no evidence that a pandemic of zoonotic origin, such as Covid-19, has been linked to air transport, the aviation sector can play an important part in mitigating the risk of future disease events and pandemics by strengthening efforts to combat animal smuggling, says a report produced for ROUTES, an international group of agencies and transport industry representatives fighting wildlife trafficking. Based solely on public reporting, around 50 high zoonotic risk trafficking instances are identified every year across the world. The report details identification methods and other recommendations for the industry and government agencies to follow. Meanwhile, Air Canada has become the first North American airline to attain illegal wildlife trade certification by IATA.

Middle East peace deal will help save 87,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions with direct routings over Israel

2020-10-27T05:07:45Z

Tue 27 Oct 2020 - The recent overflight agreement between Jordan and Israel, which allows for flights to cross both countries' airspace, will result in shorter flight times, reduced fuel burn and an annual reduction of around 87,000 tonnes of CO2, based on the number of eligible departure airports, says IATA. Should the number of eligible airports increase and traffic returns to pre-Covid levels, the emissions reduction could more than double to 202,000 tonnes each year. In the past, airlines have flown around Israel when flying east/west operating over Middle East airspace but the new direct routing will on average cut 106 km eastbound and 118 km westbound on flights operating from the Gulf States and Asia to destinations in Europe and North America. The operational elements of the new agreement are being led by the civil aviation authorities of both Jordan and Israel, with support from IATA and air traffic management agency Eurocontrol.

NATS' annual survey of public attitudes to aviation shows increasing demand for industry climate action

2020-10-16T10:02:23Z

Fri 16 Oct 2020 - An annual independent survey carried out for UK air navigation services provider NATS has found a strengthening of public attitudes towards climate change action and a demand for the aviation industry to treat it as a top priority. The vast majority (70 per cent) of those interviewed across the UK - an 18-percentage point rise in just two years - agreed that emissions reduction was the highest priority for improvement by the industry, almost double the number who think it should prioritise noise (36 per cent). By a margin of 12:1, the public believe the industry should be prioritising investment in greener technology, such as fully-electric commercial aircraft. Just 39 per cent supported airport expansion, down from 57 per cent in 2019. The survey was carried out by Ipsos MORI in early March, just before Covid-19 brought air travel to a virtual halt.

ZeroAvia and Protium sign agreement to develop green hydrogen infrastructure at UK airports

2020-10-14T12:21:15Z

Wed 14 Oct 2020 - Zero emissions flight pioneer ZeroAvia has signed a Heads of Terms collaboration with Protium to develop and expand green hydrogen infrastructure for decarbonising aviation in the UK. Project developer Protium has long-term ambitions to eventually own and operate green hydrogen infrastructure across UK airports. The UK and US based ZeroAvia recently operated a first zero-emission flight from Cranfield, with a six-seater aircraft using hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen in a fuel cell system to create electricity and propel the aircraft whilst only emitting water vapour. It is initialling targeting commercial operations in 2023 with a 10-20 seat aircraft for passenger transport and package delivery. Meanwhile, research commissioned by cross-industry group Sustainable Aviation has identified seven industrial clusters in the UK that could be home to up to 14 sustainable aviation fuel facilities. (Updated Oct 15)

CAE becomes first Canadian aerospace company to commit to carbon neutrality

2020-10-12T11:25:13Z

Mon 12 Oct 2020 - Aviation training and flight simulator giant CAE has announced it is the first Canadian aerospace company to become carbon neutral. CAE intends to offset live training fuel emissions, employee's business air travel and energy other than electricity by funding greenhouse gas reduction projects. Electricity consumption, which amounted to 190,000 MWh in fiscal 2019, will be compensated by buying renewable energy certificates (RECs) that support renewable electricity development. The company says carbon offsetting and RECs are interim measures while new technologies and solutions are being developed to reduce emissions, and will continue to invest in making its full-flight simulators more energy efficient, so allowing its customers worldwide to reduce their own footprint.

A fifth of global aviation CO2 emissions can be attributed to premium passenger seating, finds ICCT study

2020-10-09T06:05:21Z

Fri 9 Oct 2020 - In its first analysis of the carbon impact of premium (first and business) class seating, the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT) estimates nearly 20 per cent of emissions from commercial aviation were attributable to premium passengers in 2019, higher than the 15 per cent coming from air freight transport. Premium seating was estimated to be up to 4.3 times more CO2 intensive than economy seating. The ICCT study for the years 2013, 2018 and 2019 also found global commercial air traffic increased nearly four times faster than fuel efficiency improvement between 2013 and 2019, with passenger aircraft CO2 emissions increasing by a third during the period. The three largest aviation markets - the United States, the European Union and China - were together responsible for 55 per cent of CO2 emissions in 2019.

Decarbonising global aviation is feasible but will be a significant challenge, finds major industry report

2020-10-06T11:29:44Z

Tue 6 Oct 2020 - The main focus of this year's Global Sustainable Aviation Forum, organised by the cross-industry Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), was the publication of Waypoint 2050, an analysis of pathways towards the sector's long-term climate goal. Set over a decade ago, the target calls for a 50 per cent net reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 from what they were in 2005. This would mean a reduction from around 914 million tonnes (Mt) in global commercial airline carbon emissions in 2019 to 325 Mt in 2050. At the global level, the industry does not foresee reaching net-zero emissions before 2060/2065 although recognises a number of airlines will reach this by 2050, in response to national or regional goals. Given current traffic forecasts, which have been downgraded due to Covid-19, emissions could rise to 1,800 Mt by 2050 on a business-as-usual trajectory and reaching the reduction target will be a significant challenge, says ATAG, with the next 10 years being a crucial period.

Rolls-Royce on course for all-electric aircraft speed record and joins sustainability accelerator programme

2020-09-30T06:27:48Z

Wed 30 Sept 2020 - Rolls-Royce has completed ground testing of an aircraft that will aim to break the world speed record for all-electric flight early next year. The technology has been tested on a full-scale replica of the plane's core, called an 'ionBird', that includes a 500hp electric powertrain and a battery with enough energy to supply 250 homes. The plane is part of an initiative called ACCEL - short for 'Accelerating the Electrification of Flight' - with half the funding for the project being provided by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), in partnership with the UK government's Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Innovate UK. Rolls-Royce has also agreed to partner with ATI and Boeing on a three-month accelerator programme to support and back start-ups creating sustainability-enabling technologies to help the UK aerospace industry innovate and recover from the Covid pandemic.

Airlines unlikely to require significant amounts of CORSIA offsets for six years, finds Refinitiv analysis

2020-09-28T10:44:21Z

Mon 28 Sept 2020 - Only an unlikely very quick aviation sector recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic in the next three years would create any demand for carbon offsets from airlines in the 2021-2023 pilot phase of ICAO's CORSIA carbon offsetting scheme, finds a report by market analysts Refinitiv. This follows the ICAO Council decision in late June to amend CORSIA's baseline to protect the sector from an "inappropriate" financial burden during the recovery. If the Council decides in 2022 to continue with the amended baseline through to the scheme's conclusion in 2035, offset demand will be close to the level it would have been without the pandemic but only in a very quick recovery scenario. Meanwhile, a study carried out for Brussels-based NGO Transport & Environment concluded the demand for CORSIA offsets will likely be 50 per cent lower than originally expected for the period 2021-2030 as a result of the baseline change.

Boeing's 2020 ecoDemonstrator test programme ends with transcontinental flight using 50% blended SAF

2020-09-25T10:52:27Z

Fri 25 Sept 2020 - As part of Boeing's 2020 ecoDemonstrator programme, a final test flight of an Etihad Airways 787-10 from Seattle to Boeing's manufacturing site in South Carolina used 50,000 gallons of a 50/50 blend - the maximum blend permitted for commercial aviation - of sustainable and traditional jet fuel. The sustainable fuel, which has been used in lower blends on other test flights conducted during the programme, was produced from inedible agricultural wastes by World Energy and supplied by EPIC Fuels. Boeing and Etihad have had a longstanding collaboration on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and were founding partners on a pilot project taking place at Khalifa University near Abu Dhabi to produce jet fuel from saltwater-tolerant plants. Khalifa University has recently hosted a series of webinars focusing on SAF in the UAE.

Business aviation sector follows up sustainability commitment with SAF purchase agreements

2020-09-24T13:50:32Z

Thu 24 Sept 2020 - Coinciding with the Virtual 2020 Business Aviation Sustainability Summit, four organisations from the sector - Gulfstream Aerospace, NetJets, VistaJet and Signature Flight Support - have announced purchase agreements with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) suppliers. Opening the Summit, the first organised by a coalition of business aviation industry and fuel groups, NBAA President Ed Bolen said SAF represented an enormous breakthrough in tackling the sector's environmental impact. Gulfstream said it was extending a SAF supply contract with World Fuel Services while VistaJet will secure availability for its customers globally of SAF sourced and delivered by SkyNRG. The fuel for both Gulfstream and VistaJet will be produced by World Energy. Neste has agreed to supply Signature and NetJets with SAF at San Francisco and London Luton airports. The Finnish renewable fuel producer has also just signed a SAF supply agreement with Shell Aviation.

Norwegian targets 45% improvement in carbon efficiency and to use 500 million litres of SAF by 2030

2020-09-23T07:06:20Z

Wed 23 Sept 2020 – Low-cost carrier Norwegian has pledged to improve the carbon efficiency of its operations by reducing carbon emissions per passenger kilometre (pax/km) by 45 per cent by 2030, compared to 2010 levels. Carbon emissions per pax/km have fallen by 28 per cent from 2010 to 2019 and Norwegian will need a further reduction of 24 per cent by 2030. The airline is aiming to achieve the target through fleet renewal and the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Depending on the level of fleet renewal, the airline is committing to utilising between 16 and 28 per cent of SAF by the end of the decade, equivalent of up to 500 million litres. Norwegian is also planning a 100 per cent reduction of non-recyclable plastics and a 30 per cent reduction and 100 per cent recycling of single-use plastics by 2023. In efforts to improve accountability, the company will also integrate climate risk and environmental factors into corporate governance, risk management and annual reporting.

Airbus plots course for zero-emission hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft to enter service in 2035

2020-09-22T10:55:07Z

Tue 22 Sept 2020 - Airbus has unveiled three zero-emission concept commercial aircraft that could enter service by 2035, each relying on hydrogen as a primary power source. The three hydrogen hybrid aircraft designs, all codenamed ZEROe, include a turbofan design aircraft powered by a modified gas-turbine engine running on hydrogen rather than jet kerosene, a similarly powered turboprop aircraft and a blended-wing body aircraft design. The turbofan and blended-wing body aircraft would have a range of around 2,000 nautical miles and carry up to 200 passengers, with the short-haul turboprop capable of carrying up to 100 passengers on flights of 1,000 nautical miles. Airbus expects to launch a hydrogen ground demonstrator aircraft next year and undertake a first flight of a demonstrator in 2025. CEO Guillaume Faury said the announcement of the programme was an historic moment for the commercial aviation sector and the most important transition the industry had yet seen.

French proposal for higher eco taxes on flying and Greenpeace legal threat over KLM bailout angers industry

2020-09-21T13:05:03Z

Mon 21 Sept 2020 - Proposals put forward by the French citizens climate assembly for higher passenger taxes and other measures to reduce aviation emissions have been heavily criticised by industry body IATA, which said such a move would lead to heavy losses in jobs and GDP. The eco-taxes suggested could range from €30 ($35) for an economy class flight of less than 2,000km up to €400 ($470) for a longer flight in business class. According to the French civil aviation authority (DGAC), annual tax revenue from air passengers could rise nearly ten-fold to reach over €4 billion euros in a business-as-usual scenario if implemented in 2021. The UK's citizens climate assembly has recommended that frequent fliers and those who fly further should pay more. Meanwhile, Greenpeace Netherlands has filed a lawsuit to force the Dutch government to discontinue its bailout of KLM on the grounds that the climate conditions attached to the agreement do not go far enough.