Aviation reducing carbon footprint

News Article - 09 June 2009
Category: Environment

The aviation industry has been making progress towards reducing its carbon footprint, industry figures have indicated.

According to the US Air Transport Association's (ATA) annual economic report, fuel efficiency advances have led to a three per cent fall in the amount of fuel used by airlines between 2000 and 2007, despite traffic increasing by 20.4 per cent.

This amounts to a reduction of 11.2 billion lbs in carbon emissions.

"The key to connecting and protecting our planet is investment in new technology," said the ATA president and chief-executive James May, who added that the association wanted to improve efficiency by another 30 per cent by 2025.

Since 1978, fuel efficiency has increased 110 per cent, mainly by innovations in areas like engine design and aerodynamics.

According to businessGreen.com, Quentin Browell at the International Air Transport Association said the figures were typical of the worldwide industry, which has seen a 70 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency in the last four decades in attempts to reduce emissions.

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