Airlines make pollution pledge

THE UK aviation industry has moved to prevent heavy taxes being imposed on air travel by promising 'radical improvements' to aircraft noise and pollution levels.

Airlines, airports and aircraft manufacturers have said they will lower the external noise of new aircraft by 50% on current levels by 2020.

The industry also promised to limit climate change by improving fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of new aircraft by the same amount.

Entitled Sustainable Aviation, the strategy hopes to fend off tax increases threatened by the Government. Airlines currently receive lucrative tax breaks, such as not paying VAT on fuel, but the Government has warned it may have to impose more taxes on airlines and their passengers to tackle the environmental problem of flight.

Air travel is expected to triple over the next 30 years, placing huge environmental and noise pollution pressures around major airports such as Heathrow.

The plans were welcomed by Prime Minister Tony Blair. He said: 'By working with Government and society to tackle the environmental issues associated with aviation, the industry can demonstrate that economic success, social progress and respect for the environment can go hand in hand.'

The Sustainable Aviation strategy sets up mechanisms for monitoring and regular reporting of progress toward a range of specific objectives.

Other objectives includes establishing a common system for the reporting of total CO2 emissions and fleet fuel efficiency by the end of 2005, and pressing for aviation's inclusion in the EU emissions trading scheme at the earliest possible date.

However, environmentalists claim the plans do not go far enough and any benefits derived from cutting noise and pollution will be eroded by the predicted increase in traffic.