Aviation risks becoming a “preserve of the elite” if the sector does not take the right approach to sustainability, according to the president of Virgin Enterprises.
Andrew Swaffield warned it “will not be easy” for the sector to achieve net zero by 2050 – the globally recognised target – during a panel discussion at Abta’s 2023 Travel Convention.
He said one of the three strategies implemented to achieve the target could be an increase in airfares and a reduction in airlines’ schedules, which would hamper the sector’s revenues.
“We have to be quite hard-nosed and honest about this: this is going to be difficult,” he said.
“If we don’t get it right, aviation will become the preserve of the elite once again. I love the fact we can bring the world together to have cultural experience and exchanges that are facilitated by that.
“So we have got to try and protect that, but it is not going to be easy.”
He called on the government to give assurances on the production of sustainable aviation fuel in order to increase investment, stressing “one thousand times more” than what is currently being produced is required.
“When we get certainty about sustainable aviation fuel for the next 10 or 20 years, that’s when the investment money starts flooding in, and in turn when the optimism will start coming, as we’ll see a massive increase in the production,” he added.
“But without that it’s not going to happen and instead we’ll see a reduction in flying, which risks making our sector very small.”
He said that if the sector is to achieve net zero, it will need “transparency, science-based targets, regular reporting and an awful lot of innovation”, as well as improved air traffic control.
“This is all needs to come together in a very narrow pathway between now and 2050 if we’re going to reach net zero,” he warned.
He outlined there are new technologies being created for short-haul flights that will be rolled out “very soon”, including electrical vertical take-off and landing air taxis, but that developing such technologies for long-haul flights is “much more challenging”.
Swaffield’s call for increased SAF production was echoed by Abta director of industry relations Susan Deer.
She said: “The government is talking to the industry about this and working with it closely. Mark [Tanzer] is on the aviation council.
“The point Andrew made about clear communication of government intention to create a confident environment for investment is absolutely crucial.”