EasyJet calls for tough industry standards to tackle climate change

27/11/2009

By Sam Lock.

Budget carrier easyJet has called for tight new emissions standards for all airlines in order to slash the CO2 emissions of the world's aircraft by 40 per cent.

Commenting at a press conference in London yesterday (November 26th), the company's chief executive proposed that all new aircraft should have to meet tough efficiency and environmental standards by 2015.

Andy Harrison said: "Step change technology is in the pipeline and we need tough legislation on emission standards for it to be delivered sooner.

"If we get cleaner aircraft and ground the old smokers we can reduce the industry's overall emissions and tackle climate change head on."

The chief executive continued by urging the International Civil Aviation Organisation to apply the rules, which would also see airlines unable to introduce old aircraft to their fleets by 2024 and unable to operate old aircraft by 2030.

The carrier also observed that government would have to invest in research to develop new, more environmentally-friendly aviation technology.

EasyJet operates from a number of UK airports, including Aberdeen, Belfast, London Luton and Edinburgh.