Renewal of the medium-haul fleet is ongoing and new Airbus A320 aircraft are 8% more efficient from the energy and environmental point of view than the A320 series being replaced. Modernization of the long-haul fleet is also scheduled and new Airbus A350 aircraft will progressively replace A340’s and A330’s with an energy and environmental efficiency gain of around 20%.

The TAP Fuel Conservation and Emissions Reduction Project has led to improvements in the management of jet fuel consumption and a reduction in the following carbon dioxide emissions (CO2):

• Between July 2007 and June 2008 the emission of 40 thousand tons of CO2 was avoided;
• Since the beginning of the project (June 2005) the emission of 90 thousand tons of  CO2 has been avoided.

The airline transport industry is an important economic driving force as it overcomes distances and guarantees the movement of persons and high value goods and also tourism which in many countries and regions constitutes a major source of economic and social development.    

In accordance with the report published in 2007 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the United Nations (UN-IPCC), the aviation sector is responsible for 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Even in the light of the forecast of an increase in emissions generated by the aviation industry of 3% by 2050 derived from increased air traffic, the contribution of this industry shall continue to be substantially reduced in comparison with other sectors.

Within this context TAP is continually committed to minimizing its emissions and has made major investments in improving its energy and operating efficiency.  

However, increased energy efficiency in the aviation sector mainly depends on the technological development achieved by engine and aircraft manufacturers and improvements in airport infrastructure and air traffic management.