Summary
- British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are facing complaints over potentially misleading claims about reducing emissions.
- BA’s jet fuel emissions have reportedly increased despite claims of driving motion towards net zero.
- Virgin Atlantic fell in need of its emissions targets but still outlined its plans to attain net zero.
British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic are coping with complaints after allegedly misleading passengers about their environmental credentials within the aviation industry. The event comes days after Virgin Atlantic made history, completing the world’s first transatlantic flight powered fully by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Airlines have claimed that they will use SAF made out of crops or hydrogen from renewable energy, but recent research reportedly suggests that the UK would wish to significantly increase its renewable electricity supply to provide enough fuel. As much of the industry is widely committed to reducing carbon emissions, several airlines have pledged to attain net zero inside the following three many years.
“It’s time for airlines to start out being honest”
In line with an exclusive report from The Guardian, climate charity Possible and law firm Leigh Day have issued formal complaints against Virgin and BA over their claims about reducing emissions.
Photo: Sudpoth Spirurata | Shutterstock
In an announcement, Possible’s Senior Campaigner, Alethea Warrington, said the carrier’s claims are in keeping with The Guardian.
“The fact is that technologies for cleaner flight either don’t work, or don’t even exist yet. We predict that airlines’ misleading claims about their emissions are unfair on individuals who wish to do the fitting thing after they travel. It’s time for airlines to start out being honest about their sky-high emissions.”
The complaints are filed under the National Contact point mechanism, run by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). While many individuals are usually not experts in decarbonization technology, the complaints accuse the airlines of misleading consumers regarding their claims of reducing carbon emissions from flights.
BA’s response
Although the filings reportedly explain that BA says it’s and that it has a evaluation has determined that the carrier’s jet fuel emissions have increased year-on-year from 2016 to 2019, The Guardian reported. In line with a spokesperson, the airline maintains its belief that it has a transparent plan of initiatives to succeed in net zero over the short, medium, and long run.
“Within the short-term, this implies improving our operational efficiency, investing in recent, more fuel-efficient aircraft and progressively introducing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with partnerships within the UK and US, while for the medium to long term, we’re continuing to speculate in the event of SAF – a critical path to decarbonise, and looking out at how we may also help with the expansion of zero-emissions hydrogen-powered aircraft and carbon-removal technology.”
Virgin’s response
Virgin Atlantic similarly has “mission to net-zero” promotional materials. Still, the airline reportedly fell in need of its emissions targets, information that Possible believes is crucial for consumers to pay attention to. Nonetheless, a spokesperson from the carrier outlined its plan to attain its 2050 goal, including using 10% of SAF by the following decade.
“There are two levers for delivering in-sector carbon reductions within the short to medium term: the fleet we operate and fuel we burn. We already fly one among the youngest and most effective fleets across the Atlantic. Beyond fleet renewals, SAF presents a direct opportunity to deliver lifecycle carbon reductions of as much as 70% and is something now we have been pioneering for over 15 years.”
Photo: Craig Russell | Shutterstock
To align with the ambition to attain net-zero emissions on the production side, research from the Royal Society found that greater than double the UK’s total renewable energy supply or half its farmland can be needed. Charity Possible has since argued that there isn’t enough land available to provide a sufficient amount of SAF.
“ the charity explained to The Guardian.
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