Clouded visions

Expansion of air travel in the UK will not lead to increased emissions because of new technologies in the aviation industry.

The claim from the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) was in response to criticism from the new head of the government's green watchdog.

In an interview published yesterday, Will Day, the incoming chair of the Sustainable Development Commission, censured the government for its decision to approve a third runway at Heathrow. He also suggested raising the costs of flights to reduce air travel.

Matthew Knowles, a spokesman for the SBAC, said Day has not taken into consideration how new technologies such as improved aircraft and engine design and smarter air traffic management will play a role in reducing emissions. Similarly, a third runway would lead to increased flight efficiencies, leading to a lowering of emissions.

‘The Department for Transport predicts a three-fold rise in passenger demand by 2050,’ he added. ‘Our research demonstrates that despite that three-fold increase, emissions from UK aviation will actually fall back to 2000 levels by 2050.’