The inconvenient truth about sustainable’ aviation

Technology really can lead to environmentally friendly flights in the midst of a climate crisis and the Heathrow expansion getting the green light, right? Wrong, explains Helen Coffey

- Helen Coffey

"I can confirm today that this government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer." These words, stated proudly by chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of her grand plan to reinvigorate the country's flagging economy, were not universally welcomed last week. Promising an assessment to “ensure that a third runway is delivered in line with our legal, environmental and climate objectives”, her proposals immediately raised more questions than they answered in terms of the UK’s emissions targets.

“The chancellor’s decision to grant another airport expansion is dystopian,” responded Anna Krajinska, UK director at the NGO European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E). “How can the government aim to meet net zero by 2050 and simultaneously greenlight the expansion of a heavily polluting sector?”

Reeves’s own colleagues raised objections too, with London mayor Sadiq Khan saying he remains opposed to the plan due to the “severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets”.

Heathrow was not the only airport to receive a nod and a wink. The government also looks set to back expansion at London Gatwick, which has proposed turning its standby runway into a live one. And London Luton is looking to up capacity by adding more terminal space and taxiways. We’re talking significant increases here: the latter is hoping to double passenger numbers, while the former expects a 50 per cent increase in capacity. Heathrow projects that runway number three will increase flight capacity by 54 per cent, totalling 712 more flights a day.