Environment

Over the course of its 40-plus-year history, Airbus has put the highest priority on environmental performance. From the beginning, the company has adhered to its philosophy of increasing the number of passengers (or amount of freight) per flight, while reducing overall energy consumption and perceived noise. 

Air transport currently contributes two per cent of all man-made CO2 emissions – 80 per cent of which are related to passenger flights exceeding 1,500 km./900 miles, for which there is no practical alternative. The global aviation sector is expanding at a rapid pace, with passenger demand doubling every 15 years. By 2050, the industry could be handling some 16 billion travellers and 400 million tonnes of cargo annually.

Airbus is committed to ensuring that air travel continues to be one of the safest and most eco-efficient means of transportation. Environmental, health and safety considerations have long been an integral part of its preoccupations at all levels of the company, and are a key priority in the development of all new processes, techniques and products.

Eco-efficient by design

The company’s jetliners show significant progress in eco-efficiency across the board when compared to aircraft from the 1970s, including a 20-decibel decrease in noise with 75 per cent less noise annoyance. Air quality also has been markedly improved with a 90 per cent reduction in NOx emissions and a 70 per cent in CO2 emissions.

Airbus’ 21st century flagship A380 provides unrivalled efficiency with the lowest fuel burn per seat, allowing its airline operators to substantially reduce CO2 emissions while achieving profitable, sustainable growth for decades to come.

The best-selling A320 Family will be even more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly with the new engine option now being offered to customers, and which has attracted a record-setting number of orders. Designated the A320neo, this option – featuring the choice of two new engines, Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G and the LEAP-X from CFM International, along with fuel-saving Sharklet wingtip devices – will deliver fuel savings of 15 per cent and an additional flight distance of 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres), or the ability to carry two tonnes more payload at a given range.

In addition, the next-generation A350 XWB brings together the very latest in aerodynamics, design and advanced technologies to provide a 25 per cent step-change in fuel efficiency compared to its current long-range competitor.

Working toward environmental targets

Underscoring its sustained emphasis on improved environmental performance, Airbus is a key supporter of the European Commission’s “Flightpath 2050: Europe’s Vision for Aviation,” which provides several ambitious targets for the coming decades, including:

• a 75 per cent CO2 emissions reduction per passenger kilometre
• a 90 per cent NOx emissions reduction
• a 65 per cent reduction in noise

In addition, the company is in line with goals set by the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE), consisting of an overall 50 per cent reduction in noise, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and 80 per cent reduction in NOx emissions.

Airbus is a founding member of the European “Clean Sky” joint technology initiative which will improve the environmental performance of air transport – enabling step changes in the areas of reduction of fuel consumption, emissions and noise for future aircraft.

The company also is part of the Geneva-based Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) – an independent coalition of member organisations and companies throughout the global air transport industry that advocates the environmentally responsible development of aviation infrastructure.

ATAG’s environmental targets include:

• improving fuel efficiency by an average of 1.5 per cent annually to 2020
• stabilizing emissions from 2020 with carbon-neutral growth
• a 50 per cent net reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005

In addition to helping the aviation industry reduce its 2 per cent contribution to man-made CO2 emissions, Airbus also is committed to helping tackle the remaining 98 per cent – including the 17-20 per cent from deforestation, which has a significant impact on biodiversity.