For nearly five decades, air transport has provided significant social and economic benefits to society. The industry's competitive situation, however, has been undergoing fundamental change. Its development in major markets has started to be constrained by problems caused by overloaded airport and air traffic control systems and by concern about air transport's environmental impact.

To meet growing demand, the air transport industry is continuously investing in new technology which has resulted in vast improvements in environmental performance.

The industry is constantly seeking to reduce its environmental impact and has made considerable progress over time. Air transport has consistently made optimal use of technology and has sponsored technological innovation that has entailed major material and financial investment.

In order to stimulate and coordinate industry efforts, ATAG has persuaded its main air transport partners to organise an annual Aviation & Environment Summit. Further information about the 2005 and 2006 events can be found on www.environment.aero 

Air transport's impact on the environment

The effects of the aviation industry on the environment are much smaller than some people claim: aircraft use less space to move more people and often produce less pollution per passenger than cars, trucks and other forms of surface transport. Aviation is by necessity an efficient industry.  Efficiency is an essential first step on the road to sustainability and this is the key to minimising aviation's environmental impact.

• Aviation uses less than 1% of the land required for transport in the European Union. In terms of the number of people moved over a distance (passenger/kilometre), aviation uses land five times more efficiently than road and seven times more efficiently than rail.
• Aircraft entering today's fleets are 20 decibels (dB) quieter than comparable aircraft 40 years ago.
• A further 50% reduction in noise during take-off and landing (minus 10dB) is expected by 2020.
• Aircraft entering today's fleets are 70% more fuel-efficient than they were 40 years ago. Carbon monoxide emissions have been simulatenously reduced by 50%, while unburned hydrocarbon and smoke have been cut by 90%.
• Research programmes aim to achieve a further 50% fuel and CO2 saving and an 80% reduction in oxides of nitrogen by 2020.
• Enhancements in air traffic management have the potential to reduce fuel burn by 6-12%, while operational improvements can bring an additional 2-6% fuel saving.
• 80% of aviation greenhouse gas emissions are related to passenger flights of over 1,500km, for which there is no alternative mode of transport.

With the expected growth in air traffic worldwide, air transport's environmental impacts will also increase. However, future growth is likely to depend on further reductions in the environmental impact of airline operations. Quite apart from the major question of the ability of the airways and airports to absorb traffic growth, air transport will need to further improve its environmental performance.