Superjumbos may have a role to play in low-emission aviation
March 17 was a bittersweet day for aviation geeks. With the departure of flight MSN 272 from Toulouse, production of the A380 — the world’s biggest passenger aircraft — came to an end. After 15 years, one of the boldest experiments in aviation had been scuppered — not by Covid-19, but by the development of smaller, more efficient aircraft capable of carrying passengers non-stop to their long-haul destinations. Yet as the aviation industry races against the climate clock to bring down carbon emissions, there may still be a case to bring back a new version of the superjumbo. Before the pandemic forced airlines to slash routes and ground fleets, there were few in the industry who questioned aviation’s growth model. Low-cost airlines had made air travel accessible to millions. As new single-aisle aircraft took passengers longer distances, carriers were able to connect more cities with direct flights. This “point-to-point” model offered convenience to passengers and prosperity to regional airports. According to Iata, the number of direct city pairs doubled over the past two decades. ACI Europe, an airports body, estimated that between 2005 and 2017, the number of flights at regional airports grew twice as fast as at major European hubs. But can the world afford the convenience of allowing direct flights to multiply unchecked, when aviation emissions are expected to increase by up to four times 2015 levels by 2050, depending on the scenario, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization? Story has more.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2021-07-29/general/superjumbos-may-have-a-role-to-play-in-low-emission-aviation
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Superjumbos may have a role to play in low-emission aviation
March 17 was a bittersweet day for aviation geeks. With the departure of flight MSN 272 from Toulouse, production of the A380 — the world’s biggest passenger aircraft — came to an end. After 15 years, one of the boldest experiments in aviation had been scuppered — not by Covid-19, but by the development of smaller, more efficient aircraft capable of carrying passengers non-stop to their long-haul destinations. Yet as the aviation industry races against the climate clock to bring down carbon emissions, there may still be a case to bring back a new version of the superjumbo. Before the pandemic forced airlines to slash routes and ground fleets, there were few in the industry who questioned aviation’s growth model. Low-cost airlines had made air travel accessible to millions. As new single-aisle aircraft took passengers longer distances, carriers were able to connect more cities with direct flights. This “point-to-point” model offered convenience to passengers and prosperity to regional airports. According to Iata, the number of direct city pairs doubled over the past two decades. ACI Europe, an airports body, estimated that between 2005 and 2017, the number of flights at regional airports grew twice as fast as at major European hubs. But can the world afford the convenience of allowing direct flights to multiply unchecked, when aviation emissions are expected to increase by up to four times 2015 levels by 2050, depending on the scenario, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization? Story has more.<br/>