Britain told to prepare for curbs on flights and airport expansions
Air travel from the UK may have to be curbed if jet engines fail to cut their carbon footprint, Britain was warned on Wednesday. The UK's top climate change advisers said aviation was on track to become Britain's most polluting sector by 2040. They said ministers would have to consider higher taxes, or limiting the growth of airports such as London Heathrow, if net zero is slipping out of reach. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a tug-of-war between his climate advisers and Heathrow bosses who pledged on Wednesday to submit proposals for a third runway within months. The airport described itself as “Britain's gateway to growth” as it reported an increase in profits to GBP917m ($1.16b). The Climate Change Committee's report said any increase in flying “is conditional” on green technology – such as sustainable aviation fuel – developing as hoped. Starmer's government has backed Heathrow's third runway and is considering expansion plans for London Luton and London Gatwick. If technology “is not on track to deliver what is required … the government and the aviation industry will need to be ready to implement more demand management policy”, the committee said. It said a “balanced pathway” to net zero would see passenger flights rise by a relatively modest 16 per cent by 2040, when they might otherwise grow 53%. “For a long time, decarbonisation in this country has really meant work in the power sector, but now we need to see action on transport, buildings, industry, and farming,” said the committee's chairman, climate scientist Piers Forster. “This will create opportunities in the economy, tackle climate change, and bring down household bills.”<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2025-02-27/general/britain-told-to-prepare-for-curbs-on-flights-and-airport-expansions
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/logo.png
Britain told to prepare for curbs on flights and airport expansions
Air travel from the UK may have to be curbed if jet engines fail to cut their carbon footprint, Britain was warned on Wednesday. The UK's top climate change advisers said aviation was on track to become Britain's most polluting sector by 2040. They said ministers would have to consider higher taxes, or limiting the growth of airports such as London Heathrow, if net zero is slipping out of reach. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a tug-of-war between his climate advisers and Heathrow bosses who pledged on Wednesday to submit proposals for a third runway within months. The airport described itself as “Britain's gateway to growth” as it reported an increase in profits to GBP917m ($1.16b). The Climate Change Committee's report said any increase in flying “is conditional” on green technology – such as sustainable aviation fuel – developing as hoped. Starmer's government has backed Heathrow's third runway and is considering expansion plans for London Luton and London Gatwick. If technology “is not on track to deliver what is required … the government and the aviation industry will need to be ready to implement more demand management policy”, the committee said. It said a “balanced pathway” to net zero would see passenger flights rise by a relatively modest 16 per cent by 2040, when they might otherwise grow 53%. “For a long time, decarbonisation in this country has really meant work in the power sector, but now we need to see action on transport, buildings, industry, and farming,” said the committee's chairman, climate scientist Piers Forster. “This will create opportunities in the economy, tackle climate change, and bring down household bills.”<br/>
