Airlines operating in the UK are opposing a notion put forth by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) that calls on taxing frequent fliers and banning air miles program in order to combat the aviation industry’s environmental impact.
Airlines UK, a trade body whose members include Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic, told CNBC the proposal would cause “economic and reputational harm” to the aviation industry, and that “UK aviation has a robust plan to cut aviation carbon emissions and get to net zero by 2050 without the need to price people out of air travel or put the UK at a competitive disadvantage.”
The World Economic Forum (WEF) states that airlines would be one of the world’s top 10 greenhouse gas emitters if the industry was a country, with aviation responsible for around 2% of global CO2 emissions.
Some airlines, including Air New Zealand, United Airlines and Air Canada, offer flyers the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions generated by their flights.
Last year, United Airlines announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050, while JetBlue said it will be receiving its five new A321 aircrafts from the Airbus plant in Mobile, Alabama, powered with renewable jet fuel blend.
To reach its goal, United Airlines will continue investing in newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft, implementing operational changes to conserve fuel, and expanding its use of more sustainable aviation biofuels, the company said.
