ZERO – the travel business and the environment

ZERO – the travel business and the environment

Our monthly ZERO report. As this is a subscription report, the following is not the current edition.

Cleaner air

From Washington Aviation Summary; comments from ZERO:

[] United plans to buy from Neste 200mn litres of SAF over three years for its flights from Amsterdam. Neste plans to produce 2bn litres of SAF annually by end-2023. Its SAF is produced from renewable waste and raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat waste.

[] UK plans 100% SAF-fuelled transAtlantic flight by end-2023, supported by US$1.25mn (at US$1 to £0.80) of competition funding. The government is providing US$225mn over three years to support SAF plants. It wants to build three SAF plants before 2025. Not clear if these will be state-funded.
  Partners are LanzaTech, Philipps 66, Velocys.

[] Eurocontrol reports a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions in Europe by 2030 will cost US$65bn (at US$1 to €0.95), which includes US$31bn in extra tax costs on standard fuel for some intra-Europe flights, US$24bn in emissions trading costs; US$11bn in other costs.

  EC estimates the extra cost to airlines in 2030 will be US$15bn. It says some aviation operational changes could reduce these amounts by US$35bn, lowering the cumulative cost to airlines to US$31bn.

ITB on the environment

ITBB* and Statista* report on the environment:

-The travel business accounts for: 10% of GDP; 7% of exports; 10% of jobs; 5% of CO2 emissions.

-Climate change has an influence on the travel behaviour of 65% of all visitors in Germany.

-Transport accounts for 75% of CO2 emissions from travel – airlines 40%, cars 32%, train and bus 3%.

-In Germany in pre-covid 2019, CO2 emissions from a domestic flight were 214g per RPK, car 154g (flight was +40% more), long-distance train 29g (+638%).

-Of those in Germany not planning to travel this year, 6% gave protecting the environment as the reason.

-Of those in Germany, 24% say environmental reasons motivated them to change their international travel plans. Not stated what change.

-Of those in Germany, 48% say avoiding waste is important on their holidays, 40% saving resources such as energy and water.

-40% of those surveyed were willing to book a trip with a sustainable tour operator. Not stated if this also is in Germany or in a wider range of markets.

-36% of those surveyed were willing to pay more for booking with a sustainable tour operator. But in the past two years, only 19% had done so. Not stated if this also is in Germany or in a wider range of markets.

-Of those in Germany, 92% of travellers ask policymakers and tour operators to introduce measures for more eco-friendly holidays.

-Banning private planes is the 1st measure in Germany, 28%; 4th UK, 19%; 9th US, 11%. Other markets not given.

-23% of those surveyed say more research is needed; 24% more investment. This finding has little value without more detail – research on what, for instance?

*Notes:

-ITBB = ITB Berlin, the 10k-exhibitor travel trade exhibition in the city. Frequently issues reports on the travel business, of which this is one.

-Statista is a Germany-based company specialising in market and consumer data, established in 2007. Unlike IPK International – ITBB’s previous statistics supplier – Statista does not specialise in travel.

-At press time, we had not received an answer to our request for clarifications.

CO2 emissions at airports

ACI* reports on CO2 emissions at airports in Europe:

-ACI member airports to become net zero for CO2 emissions by 2050* ‘at the latest’. Decided in 2019; 60 airports have signed, making 270.

-130 airports plan to achieve net zero before 2050.

-47% of the 270 target net zero for 2030 or earlier. These airports account for 23% of air traffic in Europe.

-10 airports in Sweden (including Stockholm), have already reached net zero. Toulon in France targets 2024, Athens and Finavia’s 20 airports in Finland 2025, Lyon in France 2026.

-Targetting 2030 are:

    -Aeroporti di Roma (two), Aeroports de la Cote d’Azur (three, including Nice), ANA (10, including Lisbon), Avinor (44 in Norway, including Oslo), Royal Schiphol (four in Netherlands, including Amsterdam), Sea Milan (two), 10 Vinci airports in France.

    -Three in Iceland, three in Lithuania (including Vilnius).

    -Basel, Belfast, Belgrade, Bologna, Bristol, Copenhagen, Leeds, London City, London Gatwick, Luxembourg, Marseille, Tallinn.

-In 2021 ACI started a database of airports to detail their net zero plans. Airports doing this total 146, which we calculate would be +22.7%.

-ACI also has Airport Carbon Accreditation – a worldwide standard and program for CO2 management at airports.

    -Highest in this ACA (but targets, not achievements) are Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Helsinki, London Heathrow, and four in Finland (Enontekio, Kittila, Ivalo, Rovaniemi).

    -Entering ACA, but not the top level, are Bulgaria (Sofia), France (Beziers, Bordeaux, Carcassonne, Pau, Perpignan, Poitiers), Spain (Alicante, Ibiza, Menorca, Palma), Turkey (Istanbul).

-Agreement with Airbus to study hydrogen and electrification at airports.

*Notes:

-ACI = Airports Council International. Canada-based association for commercial airports.

–2050 is 30 years from now and we believe an unconvincing target, for public relations purposes only. 2030 would be a tough target, but surely 2035 is the furthest credible date?

Briefs

[] Airbus and Qantas plan to invest $200mn* over five years to develop an SAF industry in Australia. Qantas targets using 10% SAF by 2030.

*Notes: Not clear if A$ or US$. If A$, the amount would be US$143mn; if US$, A$280mn.

[] Bordeaux airport targets reaching Stage 2 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation of Airports Council International. This means:

-immediate reduction of CO2 emissions controlled directly by the airport.

-a plan to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% over four years. 

#environment

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