At their Annual General Meeting today(9 March 2019), A4E airline CEOs agreed to identify sustainability targets which would help the EU meet its environmental goals. A4E, together with the wider EU aviation industry, will also lead in the development of a roadmap in order to define how a combination of measures and appropriate policies could help Europe’s aviation industry fulfill its sustainability commitments.
“While we remain committed to the industry’s self-imposed global targets, our members believe EU airlines – and Europe as a whole, can go further to lead the way in developing a roadmap towards sustainable aviation. Aircraft fuel efficiency levels have improved by 2% a year in Europe and this should be recognised. But further significant progress can be made if current research and development initiatives, such as electric and hybrid engine technologies, and sustainable alternative fuels, were better funded and if the right political decisions were taken to remove the hurdles in place”, said Thomas Reynaert, Managing Director, Airlines for Europe (A4E).
Since 2014, EU airlines’ own technical and operational measures have saved some 20 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, according to a new study*. That is the equivalent to 1.6 million intra-EEA flights, or 100 days of flying.
At the same time, inefficiencies often leave Europe’s airspace congested, preventing airlines from flying the most environmentally friendly routes. According to the study, ATC strikes, technical failures and related operational inefficiencies have led to one million tonnes of avoidable CO2* emissions since 2014 -- on top of the additional emissions generated by not implementing the Single European Sky initiative. Improving Europe’s airspace architecture, e.g. through harmonised and more widespread implementation of Free Route Airspace (allowing airlines to fly their preferred trajectories) – and adapting airspace design to traffic flows would lead to at least a 10% decline in CO2, thereby contributing towards making air transport even more sustainable in the future.
“Simply put, these disruptions and inefficiencies undermine current efforts. They represent roadblocks to EU airlines’ future sustainability targets and must be urgently dealt with. Governments have a shared responsibility to act by allowing new, more efficient operational concepts to take hold. The industry needs more support for our efforts to reduce dependency on fossil fuels”, Reynaert added.
With a greater utilisation of sustainable fuels and further fleet modernisation, airlines already have promising solutions to reduce aviation’s climate impact over the next 10-15 years. To fully benefit from these solutions, current airspace inefficiencies must be urgently addressed, for example through greater digitalization of air navigation services and an overhaul of Europe’s airspace architecture. An effective combined effort from all operational stakeholders and decision makers is essential to properly address environmental challenges.
The environmental impact of European airspace inefficiencies
Johan Lundgren, CEO, easyJet highlighted the things done they way are done today that are not working. He added that they count every reduction of CO2 that they can benefit from. On the issue of strikes he said that is frustrating to pay for something that they don't get. He is certain that disruption will disappear if the issues are managed.
CANSO Director General, Jeff Poole stressed that “everyone can do better than what we are doing today” so focus should be on fixing any problem and all procedures. He added that a huge amount of work has been done in ANSP's. What is really important is to achieve true collaboration, true common work. ATM has come a long way but the focus should be on fixing the problem and not on blaming each other.
Arjan Meijer, CCO Commercial Aviation, Embraer boasted that the company has done a good work on new aircraft and engine.
A Future Vision for EU Aviation
To the question “How you would like the industry to be in 2030?”
Michael O'Leary, CEO, Ryanair stated that there will more consolidation, the number of passengers will increase from 800 million to 1 billion passengers, the industry will continue to reduce costs, there will be fuel efficient aircraft and better flight planning. Make ATM compete. Need faster training of air traffic controllers.
Lufthansa's Carsten Spohr, Chairman and CEO agreed with O'Leary but added that in short term he is rather pessimistic as the industry will have to face more flights but with same infrastructure, which will create stress, problems and delays. In the medium term he expects that there will be a new act of energy.
Willie Walsh, CEO, International Airlines Group agreed with the other speakers and added that the growth awaited must be financially sustainable and environmentally sustainable. “We need effective regulation of monopoly airports” He put an emphasis on what he called the “Scandal of the inefficiency of airspace” and commented that 40 years ago the aircraft were very different from today but they are still flying in the same routes. He concluded by saying that A4E to lobby as the industry is prevented from fully exploiting the available technology.
Keynote interview with Eamonn Brennan EUROCONTROL
Breannan warned that "we are heading to the wall”. He announced that for this summer EUROCONTROL are changing airways, moving routes as for example away from Marseille area. But these measures and moves are not enough and in the long run the airlines have to lobby with governments and the European Commission. There are two issues: fragmentation of the airspace and monopolies. He also stressed the need to introduce financial incentives for the different ANSPs in order to compete.
A4E CEO debate
IAG’s CEO, Willie Walsh, stated that government does not interfere and he personally doesn't encourage the idea of state involvement as airlines owned by government “not a good thing” as government's prespective is incompatible with the issues and problems airlines face. He stressed that fuel price is not a big issue and that there is not much capacity available in Europe. He concluded by saying that the industry cannot progress without change.
Michael O'Leary, CEO, Ryanair said that state airlines provide entertainment.He predicted that Norwegian will be the next airline to vanish and that there will be more capacity in the future. As far as Brexit is regarded he said that the situation will be exactly the same as things were before pre-Brexit.
Pieter Elbers, CEO, KLM stated that the Dutch decision for the increase shareholding was taken at a specific time and in a specific environment. He believes that consolidation will go on to achieve a balance as scheduled arilines need to compete in US, Asia and in Europe versus LCCs
Lufthansa's Chairman and CEO, Carsten Spohr stated that Alitalia’s situation is a shame. He stressed that being a global player in the air industry is a political decision. The bgiggest competitors are full government owned airlines from China and the Gulf and the protected US airlines. European airlines operate in a more fragmented market than airlines is the US, which means that “We lose energy in Europe”. Thus, European airlines are losing globally. He stressed that there is a weakness at this meeting as there are no union representatives. And he concluded by saying We are far away from US that they have one voice”
Johan Lundgren, CEO, easyJet stated that there is no a level playing field so it Is up to the airlines to raise their voice.
Source:atn.aero/
