Air travel cannot continue to expand in a bubble

Flying is one area that does not seem to receive the amount of attention due when discussing climate change.

I wonder how many people put the recycling aside and jump on a plane for the summer holidays. Funny, how in our strange world, some seem to think these climate crises can be put on hold whilst we troop off for the summer hols. In reality, maybe this is the time of year when maximum damage is being done to the planet.

Air travel generates emissions, which go into the upper atmosphere. Planes also pollute the air.

One of the worrying things about air travel is that it seems set to grow hugely over the coming decades unless something is done. There were over 4 billion journeys in 2017, a figures due to increase to 7.8 billion by 2036. The recent consultation document about changes at London City Airport explained how all the main airports (except Stansted), including Heathrow with a third runway, expect to be up full by the mid-2030s.

The air travel industry seems much slower than others to develop cleaner vehicles. Compare for example, developments with planes to the technological leaps being made with electric cars.

Air travel is also subsidised in the form of airlines not having to pay tax on fuel – this is something that should have stopped many years ago.

So the challenges of getting the airline industry to address the climate crisis are big.

The latest move to expand air travel in this area is the earlier mentioned plans of London City Airport (LCA). LCA have brought forward a Draft Masterplan for 2020 to 2035. This updates the original plan of 2006.

Intriguingly, the new draft plan includes a commitment to go carbon neutral by 2020. LCA also aims to have 75% of passengers journeys to and from the airport by public transport and sustainable transport modes by 2025.

The major concern for Redbridge residents is the proposed increase in flights over the weekend and at the beginning and end of each day. At present, there is a no fly window between 12.30 on Saturday and 12.30 on Sunday. The daytime flying during the rest of the week would also increase by half an hour at the start and end of each day.

The campaign group Stop City Airport claim the move will add another 40,000 flights to air traffic over the area.    

There is growing opposition to the CA plans for more flights – the complaints being environmental and simple quality of life. Do we not have more than enough flights criss crossing Redbridge, poisoning the air we breath, not to mention the noise pollution?

Leyton and Wanstead MP John Cryer and local councillors have been making representations to LCA, who appear to be hearing the complaints but are they really listening?

What is for sure is that if we really are serious about addressing the climate crisis the attitude of turning a blind eye to air travel cannot continue. There need to be less and cleaner flights. The challenges are there for the airline industry - if it wants to survive, there needs to be action now.

*To submit your views to the consultation – open until 20/9/2019 – see: https://www.londoncityairport.com/corporate/consultation
To sign the Stop City Airport petition - https://t.co/IKOvFyY9Uc?amp=1