Red tape stops airlines cutting emissions

Airlines could cut their greenhouse gas emissions by up to a quarter if the burden of European Commission rules on cancelled flights was lifted.

Geoffrey Atkinson, Monarch Airlines company secretary and group lawyer, said: “The skies are full of half-full aircraft, and the average load factor is only 75%. Yet airlines fear to cancel.”

He said every fourth flight could be grounded to save fuel if airlines were allowed to transfer passengers to fill seats.

“But airlines are more likely to operate a flight with empty seats than risk the penalties for cancelling,” said Atkinson.

Cancelling a flight for reasons other than safety or ‘unforeseen circumstances’ can lead to substantial compensation payments or penalties under an EC regulation on denied boarding, cancellation and long delays which came into force in February 2005.

UK airlines can be fined up to £5,000 per passenger for non-compliance, and the EC is considering extending the rules and raising compensation rates in a review in January.

Speaking at the International Travel and Tourism: Policy, Law and Management conference in Newcastle, Atkinson said: “The EC should be concerned above all about the environment, yet it penalises airlines. It’s not good for the environment.”

At the same conference ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer criticised those in the industry who downplay the contribution of air travel to global warming.

He said: “It’s not an option to do nothing or to say tourism is not as bad as other industries – that it’s only responsible for 3% of emissions.” Tanzer said the industry should embrace environmental measures, and ABTA aimed to be in the forefront.