Debunking
aviation myths
Giovanni Bisignani, Director
General, IATA
On Kyoto
Domestic aviation is included in Kyoto. International air transport
was excluded but with a commitment to find a solution through ICAO by the 2007
Assembly. Airlines took environmental performance seriously long before Kyoto.
Over the last 40 years emissions per passenger kilometre have decreased by 70%.
On greenhouse gas emissions
T
he air transport industry supports 8% of global economic activity. The entire
transport sector is responsible for 20% of total C02 emissions. Road transport
generates 80% of total transport emissions, while air transport is responsible
for only 12%. Even if all air travel stopped, the result is only a 2% global
improvement in C02 emissions. But the impact on global economies would be
disastrous.
On fuel efficiency
Airline fuel efficiency improved 20% in the last decade, nearly 5% over the
past two years alone. Today’s modern aircraft consume an average 3.5 litres per
100 passenger kilometres, similar to a compact car but with 6 times the speed.
The Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 are targeting fuel efficiencies below 3.0 litres
per 100 passenger kilometres.
On paying its way
Air transport pays entirely for its own infrastructure, a US$42 billion
annual bill. Airlines pay when they land, when they fly and when they park. This
is completely different from both road and rail. Air transport is a cash cow for
many governments. In Europe, every rail journey is subsidised between €2.4 and
€7.4. But every air journey contributes between €4.6 and €8.4 in Government
revenues and avoided expenditure. In the US, the average tax on a US$200 air
ticket is 26%, a level of taxation similar to alcohol and tobacco. In total this
contributes US$1 5 billion to US Government coffers.
On the necessity of air
transport
Air transport brings people to business, products to markets, tourists to
holiday destinations and unites families and friends around the world. In short,
air transport made the global village a reality. Consider that 80% of aviation
emissions are related to flights over 1,500 km for which there is no alternative
mode of transport.
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