A NEW generation of aircraft poised to enter service should cut fuel consumption and emissions by 20% compared with the workhorses of today’s fleets.
Boeing regional director for product marketing Stephen Ford said the efficiency gains of the company’s 787 Dreamliner and 747-8 Jumbo would be dramatic.
“Environmental considerations are a key point of the design requirements,” he told Thomson staff at last week’s Green Day event.
The new 787 should be 20% more fuel-efficient than the 767-300 or Airbus A330, according to Boeing, and its longer range should offer further savings through its ability to fly long-haul routes point-to-point rather than requiring a fuel stop.
Changes in the wing design of Boeing’s existing 737 aircraft have already led to a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency over the lifetime of the model, said Ford.
An additional 4% to 5% in savings have come simply through adding upturned ‘winglets’ to the tips of wings.
However, despite all the improvements, the boom in air travel means overall emissions from flying continue to outstrip the efficiency savings by 3% a year – meaning the problem is becoming worse despite the best efforts of the manufacturers.