Virgin Atlantic chairman Richard Branson called on the transportation industry to reduce carbon dioxide emissions late last month, when he proposed a number of initiatives which he said would slash production of greenhouse gases by up to 25 percent if adopted.
While Branson's plan serves as the latest call to action to implement environmentally friendly travel operations, domestic carriers have in fact been cutting emissions by decreasing consumption of jet fuel because its high cost has been eating into airline industry earnings.
The Air Transport Association of America said its member carriers — including American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, and United — have increased fuel efficiency by 23 percent since 2000.
Brian Mullis, president of Sustainable Travel International, an advocacy group for eco-friendly travel, noted that carbon dioxide emissions at higher altitudes are more damaging to the environment.
Branson has pledged that earnings from his transportation businesses, including Virgin Atlantic, will be invested into businesses that develop renewable energy — with plans to contribute $3 billion over the next decade.
He suggested the creation of new airport infrastructure to reduce fuel burn before takeoffs and after landings. He envisions "starting grids," to which commercial planes would be taxied with their engines off. Planes would start their engines only 10 minutes before takeoffs.
Gains that airlines have made in recent years may be offset by a growing worldwide aviation sector. This has prompted proposed legislation holding carriers further accountable to environmental effects.
"Aircraft movements are predicted to double by 2020 and triple by 2030, and technological efficiency gains aren't enough to counteract the massive increases in emissions they will generate," said European Parliament member Caroline Lucas, whose measure to impose on airlines an emissions-trading plan and additional taxes to curtail emissions was adopted by the parliament.
Mullis called on carriers to include carbon calculators on their websites, so travelers can trace — and even offset — their carbon footprint while booking.
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