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For Heathrow expansion to work, Britain must become the destination for sustainable aviation

29 January 2025

Prof Mark Maslin, Professor of Earth System Science and Captain Iain Hanson, Director of UCL Centre for Sustainable Aviation, explore the importance of sustainable aviation in helping grow the economy and meet the UK's climate goal.

Photo by Harrison Lugard on Unsplash

Prof Mark Maslin, Professor of Earth System Science and Captain Iain Hanson, Director, UCL Centre for Sustainable Aviation.

With the government’s announcement that it is minded to move ahead with a third runway at Heathrow, one of the most protracted debates in UK aviation enters a new stage. And yet, a much bigger question and challenge has been raised – how can Britain and the world meet the rising demand for air travel with a commitment on net zero?

Aviation is a growth industry, with a continuous annual growth of 4%, combined with a projected turnover of over $trillion by 2030. 

If we accept, as we have to, that flying is here to stay and is set to grow, then how can the UK not only transition to a more environmentally friendly way to travel but be a world leader in these emerging technologies, allowing Britain not only to tackle climate change but also to grow sustainably.

Much talk has been about the shift to electric and hydrogen technology in aircraft. However, even if these were ever successful, they would not enter service until 2040 at the earliest. So in the short to medium term, significant changes are required now within the aviation industry if the government is to deliver growth and meet its net zero ambitions.

Let’s start with fuel.

Unsurprisingly, the aviation industry’s most significant source of emissions is burning kerosene. Airlines must transition from conventional to sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) over an agreed timescale with equitable access. These fuels can include biofuels derived from plants, animals, or waste and synthetic fuels such as artificial kerosene. Depending on which fuel type is used, they could lower CO2 emissions by 20–98% compared to conventional fuel. The quality and the supply of these alternative fuels need to be assured, and this is where the Government can create supportive policies to help the transition to these new fuels.   

The latest generation of aircraft has improved aerodynamics and engine fuel efficiency, which saves a significant amount of fuel and emissions. Airlines need to invest in this new technology. Retrofitting existing aircraft with winglets, lighter cabin interiors, or improved engine technology - all of these improvements improve operational efficiency and reduce emissions. Airlines and airports can also reduce operational aircraft weight by optimising payload.

In recent years, many of us have become adept at tracking planes using online platforms and apps. However, the routes we track could often be better optimised, especially around busy airports. By using advanced navigation technology and improved coordination with air traffic control, airlines can better select the most fuel-efficient routes and altitudes and reduce the need for holding patterns near airports. Critical to this is ensuring that airports have enough operational capacity to absorb these movements so that when poor weather or other operational delays strike, they can still land and depart more aircraft quickly and efficiently.

Airports must join the challenge and become much more sustainable by using renewable energy, such as solar or wind energy, to power airport operations.
Renewable energy can be used for ground equipment and aircraft support, such as electric tugs, baggage loaders, and catering trucks. It is possible to improve ground operations to reduce emissions, such as minimising aircraft engine idling time during taxiing and using reduced engines for taxying.

We can use the UK to showcase how it can be done. At least 575 existing or new airport projects worldwide have a total value of $488 billion, and many more are planned over the next two decades. All of these projects need to be sustainable. In this transition, UK engineering and design firms are world leaders. This work is a significant British export, helping deliver trade and net zero globally.

The UK Government has set an ambitious target of reducing emissions by 81% by 2035 and net zero by 2050. Aviation is a growing industry, with an annual growth of 4%, and it will have a turnover of over a trillion US dollars globally by 2030. Britain has all the ingredients to make sustainable aviation a good news story for the economy and the planet. Combining academia and the aviation industry with Government incentives and support can lead the world in creating sustainable aviation with economic growth.