Four key areas to cut and offset carbon emissions from the growth in flights created by an a third runway at Heathrow have been outlined by the London hub.
Cleaner aircraft technology, improvements to airspace and ground operations, sustainable aviation fuels, and carbon offsetting methods are being highlighted.
The airport aims to use its leadership and market position, to capitalise on the opportunities from expansion to ensure growth is met in a “responsible and sustainable” way.
Heathrow says its plan builds on the momentum of technological change within the aviation industry to make travel more sustainable despite international aviation demand being projected to rise over the decades ahead.
• On aircraft technology, Heathrow is pledging to:
o Treat environmental performance of aircraft as a key consideration of slot allocations for new flights;
o Offer free landing fees for a year at the airport for the first commercially viable electric flight;
o Continue offering cheaper landing fees for cleaner and quieter aircraft;
o Review the infrastructure requirements for charging electric aircraft through the its centre of excellence for sustainability
• On airspace and ground operations, Heathrow will:
o Support the government’s plans on modernising airspace – including the potential elimination of routine stacking for aircraft coming to land;
o Reduce emissions from aircraft on the ground through reduced taxi times, increased access to on-stand power sources, and fewer engines used while moving around the airport;
• To promote the use of sustainable alternative fuels the airport will:
o Make Heathrow a leading hub for the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels by providing the necessary airport infrastructure, and support for pilot projects
• To develop and promote new ways of carbon offsetting, Heathrow will:
o Continue investing in UK peatland restoration and other projects to play a key role in developing the next generation of UK carbon offsets. Peatland restoration has the potential to be amongst the highest-quality, most cost-effective carbon offsetting methods – and a pilot project is already underway in Lancashire.
Heathrow is also calling on:
• ICAO – the UN body for international aviation – to develop global goals for the uptake of sustainable alternative fuels
• The government to engage ICAO and fellow member states to agree a 2050 goal for international aviation
Heathrow will seek feedback from the aviation industry, advocacy groups and climate change experts to set out further details in its plan.
Consumers will then have an opportunity to feed into the process – including plans to mitigate road traffic and construction – in the next statutory consultation on Heathrow expansion next summer.
Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: “Climate change is the biggest challenge facing our generation. But it is not aviation that’s the enemy – it is carbon.
“We are committed to taking the lead to deliver carbon neutral growth in aviation, and the plan we launch today sets out the roadmap to get there.”