UP UP AND AWAY: Airlines Need to Modernize the Runway!

Caitlin Cotter, Staff Writer

According to the European Union, “if global aviation was a country, it would rank in the top 10 for greenhouse gas emissions.” Airlines have always been a major source of carbon emissions, and yet, the industry has grown exponentially each year as more and more people and goods take to the skies. Sustainability has never been at the forefront of airlines, considering the huge amounts of fuel used and the costs associated with improving the carbon footprint of aircrafts. Interestingly, the coronavirus pandemic has brought a halt to carbon emissions and temporary relief from fossil fuel usage and pollution. The current vulnerable state of the airline industry is perhaps the wake-up call needed for airlines to start taking sustainability seriously if they hope to survive the pandemic and the inevitable environmental impacts of climate change that will shift the way humans travel. There is an advantage for airlines who create COVID-19 recovery plans that take into account sustainability and climate change. 

The risk of flying during a pandemic has lead to a severe reduction in the carrying capacity of airlines, causing billions of dollars lost for the airline industry. New England Public Radio/AFP via Getty Images

Despite a general lack of airline sustainability, certain airlines were attempting to create sustainability plans before the pandemic hit. JetBlue was drafting a plan to become the first carbon-neutral carrier in the United States as of July 2020 and Delta Airlines was putting $1 billion towards becoming a global carbon neutral airline over the next 10 years. Other airlines had similar goals to reduce single-use plastics and waste. Momentum was starting to build around airlines and their environmental impact, especially due to increasing consumer sentiment surrounding sustainability. According to a survey done by McKinsey, a majority of younger airline customers are worried about climate change and are aware of an aircraft’s negative environmental impact. They would consider reducing flying or even paying for a carbon-neutral ticket, although there is already pressure on airlines to cover these costs themselves. Despite the growing pressure around improving airline sustainability, once coronavirus hit and started impacting airlines’ financial stability, any focus on environmental management shifted to economically surviving the pandemic. 

COVID-19 brought a significant economic downtown for the airline industry. Airline passenger numbers dropped significantly, and it will be a long while before economic profit returns to pre-pandemic numbers. IATA analysis showed airline revenues this year will decrease by 55% from 2019, meaning billions of dollars of losses. Despite the burden of financial instability, the brief pause in how many aircrafts were taking off was environmentally beneficial. A major decrease in travel when the pandemic was in its beginning stages caused a decrease in fossil fuels and pollution. 

With the extreme decline in airline capacity and demand seen over the past few months, it is extremely unpredictable when airline operations and the number of passengers will return to pre-pandemic trends. Those that survive- most likely through government aid- will do so by prioritizing what the world will look like in the wake of the pandemic with even bigger issues on the horizon. It is very obvious at this point that this global pandemic is an extreme wakeup call highlighting the endless flaws in our society and industries. However, it is also one of the best and most timely opportunities to implement sustainable practices in these industries. Looking to the future, airlines can plan for sustainable fuels, carbon offsetting, and improving their fleets, among other tangible environmental actions. Airlines that do not include climate change in their risk plans could lead to a potential downfall. American Airlines has a risk plan that includes economics, data, debt, and trade unions, among other factors outside their control but only briefly mentions climate change as a contributing risk. 

As the world starts to move towards what it considers its new “normal,” airline usage has also ramped up and airlines are focused on how they can recover and maintain the industry. Sustainability is no longer a priority, even though industries were only just scratching the surface on tangible climate change action pre-pandemic. Priorities have shifted to industry survival and job security instead of carbon offsetting, pollution, and emission reduction. However, the impact of COVID-19 on the airline industry is merely hinting at what could come with the effects of climate change and its disruption to air travel, such as weather disruptions and increased turbulence. The current state of the industry allows room for exploration and rebuilding with a forward focus on sustainable longevity. With recent government bailouts of more than $50 billion,  airlines have been given a multitude of financial relief to protect jobs and the industry itself. With these relief packages, a majority benefiting bigger corporations than individual workers themselves, financial assistance should be leveraged to encourage airlines to improve their risk and sustainability plans to higher environmental standards as they rebuild. Airlines should be held accountable in improving their environmental standards and emission reductions, especially since the industry’s prior infrastructure has crumbled due to coronavirus. If airlines create concrete, sustainable goals as part of their recovery plan, it will ensure their long term survival. 

Before the pandemic hit, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) set a goal for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This was not just for the airline industry, but all industries. Aviation is an area that is particularly difficult to control, however, because it is hard to determine which emissions should be allocated to which country when aviation takes place in global common. In order to move towards net-zero emissions from airlines, nations also need to mandate emission reduction goals and take responsibility for their role in fueling climate change. 

There is an advantage for airlines who create COVID-19 recovery plans taking into account sustainability and climate change.

Obviously, the perfect solution for aircrafts that don’t contribute to climate change has not yet been created. However, there are smaller opportunities and ideas ripe for investment that could spur the future of airline sustainability. From the improvement of fuel efficiency to the modernization of airline fleets and carbon offsetting, there are sustainable avenues for airlines to explore. Not surprisingly, even these opportunities bring challenges. Improving fuel efficiency could result in the implementation of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) or biofuels. Generally, airlines use kerosene which is incredibly expensive and produces large amounts of C02, but a switch from fossil kerosene to SAF could reduce carbon emissions significantly. Advanced biofuels are also an option, but there are more issues with expenses and availability. Switching fuel methods for airlines will need a multi-pronged approach and framework built by the government, suppliers, and industry itself. Another potential change involves the modernization of aircrafts with new technology. It is possible to build high-efficiency engines that would have twin engines as opposed to the standard four-engine aircraft. Similarly, utilizing smaller aircrafts fueled by hydrogen is an alternative to larger aircrafts with opposing fuel sources. Despite the possibility of these hybrid-electric flights, batteries would also increase the weight of the aircraft so it would not be ideal for longer flights. The modernization of fleets would only cut emissions by 20-30% compared to business as usual, but the exploration of newer technologies will be beneficial in the long run. Another option is carbon offsetting. Though it is not an ideal long-term solution because it could play into controversies such as greenwashing, it is an important investment in projects that could compensate for emissions. Such projects could include a nature-based approach like planting trees or a resource recovery approach like methane landfill capture. A successful strategy for airlines will take into account modern technology for renewable fleets, fuel efficiency and fuel alternatives, and carbon offsetting. 

The future of airlines will be determined by how they use their government bailout to create future risk and sustainability plans that are framed to survive the next wave of climate hardship. If the government uses financial leverage to hold airlines accountable and airlines build on the momentum surrounding pre-pandemic sustainability, there is a chance to leave this crisis well-equipped for the impending lifestyle shifts brought forth by climate change. The multitude of options for airlines, from improved fuel efficiency to more competent fleets, offer inspiration and solutions to the pandemic and the fate of aviation.