Low-cost airlines are leading the way in the aviation industry with some of the most impressive statistics relating to the environment, a new report claims.
In a week that has seen Ryanair embroiled in a dispute with ministers over carbon emissions, the European Low Fares Airline Association (ELFAA) has revealed that the average fleet age of its 11 member airlines is now just 3.9 years.
The environmental impact of the newer aircraft is considerably smaller than older alternatives and ELFAA believes that this is evidence of the measures that have been taken by its airlines in recent years.
“This remarkable result, combined with high seat density and industry-leading load factors, results in minimised fuel burn and resultant CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre,” said John Hanlon, secretary general of the ELFAA.
Indeed, the 11 airlines, including easyJet, Flybe, Ryanair and Wizz Air, filled 83 per cent of all seats last year, with 106 million passengers carried in total.
“This further improved result demonstrates that the low-cost/low-fares business model is highly environmentally sustainable in addition to continuing to deliver substantial tangible benefit to the European economy and consumers,” Mr Hanlon added.
Low-fare airlines currently account for 30 per cent of scheduled intra-European traffic, according to the ELFAA.
The ongoing dispute in the aviation industry was sparked by environment minister Ian Pearson’s controversial claim that Ryanair represents the “irresponsible face of capitalism”.
