The situation of aviation

In recent decades economic activity has seen substantial growth with no evidence of the necessary care being taken over the conservation of our Planet, balancing the need for growth with the duty to preserve the natural environment. As a result of this the international community currently finds itself confronted with the need to adopt measures to avoid the worsening of the climactic situation or even some form of recovery to its former state of quality.

Within this context, the future of economic activity largely depends on the capacity revealed by political authorities as well as economic and social agents in adopting profound changes in behavior in order to respond to their duty to generations to come.

Aviation is an activity segment which is naturally in the public eye, evident due to its growing importance and therefore justifies more in-depth study and debate of this topic in order for our position within this context to be made especially clear.

First of all it is important to point out one or two facts and figures:

The air transport segment today represents 8 percent of world GDP with significant economic and social benefits in a group of countries providing 29 employment openings, 4.4 million of which in the European Union alone.

Passenger transport is gaining increasing importance as can be attested to by the high rates of growth as a rule higher than those of economic growth itself.
In terms of cargo, air transport retains on its own 40 percent (in value) of all cargo shipped worldwide.

Due to its characteristics, air transport also performs a solidarity role between regions by enabling access practically exclusively to more isolated areas, in particular insular and/or outlying regions.

Though the accelerated used of alternative energy source is absolutely indispensable, gasoline still plays a fundamental role in air transport, a fact that may lead to misinterpretation of the contribution made by this mode of transport in terms of total CO2 emissions.

Actual figures however are revealing. Within European airspace, at 25, aviation is responsible for just 3 percent of total emissions while road transport answers for 15 percent, energy production and heat for 39 percent and industry for 15 percent.

These numbers are naturally not a reason for considering that obligations in the segment have been exhausted since problems have reached such a serious dimension for our Planet that no effort can be considered excessive.

We are also aware that air transport is subject to increased demand reflected in a global increase in traffic of the order of 5 percent a year. This imposes a need to increase our efforts with the aim of improving efficiency and continuing to curb CO2 emissions.

However it is not fair to say that motivation in our industry relating to improved efficiency and factors associated with the environment is a new trend. Particularly by means of constant innovation and improvements in aircraft performance, the industry has reduced noise pollution by 75 percent in the last 40 years and at the same time increased energy efficiency by 70 percent, 4.8 percent in the last two years alone.

Perspectives for the future

By intensifying efforts conducive with improved efficiency, gains of 25 percent are expected in terms of fuel consumption and as a result CO2 emissions by 2020 will reach the same level as those produced between 1996 and 2006.

It is true that with these improvements, the industry is contributing to an improved environment and is also capable of meeting another goal: that of drastically cutting costs, passing on almost all gains made as reductions in the tariffs charged to passengers.

A significant reduction in dependency on fossil fuels is not predicted, and these will continue to predominate in the medium term. However it is already possible that within 10 years we shall see the substitution of 10 percent of fuel by other alternative fuels. And according to credible estimates, it is also possible to promise the introduction of zero carbon aircraft by the middle of this Century or those running entirely on renewal energy.

Improvements in infrastructure will also be equally efficient for the purposes envisaged, with airports and those associated with airline routes of greatest importance.

In effect, growth in traffic currently forces all countries to rethink their airports and the need to adapt them or even proceed with the construction of new facilities. Those who fall behind not only diminish their role if adopting environmental protection measures but they also “miss the boat” (as the expression goes) in terms of improving efficiency levels that may ensure good profitability.

In terms of air traffic, an area in which the Association of European Airlines (AEA) has long been clamoring for is the introduction of the Single European Sky, since it is estimated that 12 percent of CO2 emissions is associated with inefficient air traffic management. With the alterations suggested by the AEA there could be a 6 percent reduction in 2012 which would result in the elimination of 35 million tons of CO2.

The situation of Portugal and TAP

In the first part of this article I spent time on perspectives for the industry as disclosed by leading associations representative of the segment, in particular the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and AEA. Now I shall move onto one or two points regarding the situation in Portugal and in particular in relation to TAP, the national airline company in question.

According to the general guidelines recommended for the segment and in line with its own policy, TAP’s response to the challenges that climactic change brings about abides by the principles listed below.

- Use of eco-efficient practices and technology that reconcile Company growth with protection of the environment;

- Promoting constant improvement based around the reinforcement of environmental awareness both in workers and suppliers alike;

- The adoption of the principles of environmental quality in all Company activities;

- Respect for the Star Alliance Environmental Commitment and the UN Global Compact.

Merely as proof of international recognition of the work carried out by TAP on this subject, I refer to the fact the company was selected for the specific IATA body dealing with environmental questions, comprising a select and restricted group of airline companies.

According to those principles, TAP has directed its activity towards the following actions: 
 
1. Improvement in energy and operational efficiency. For example, refer to the Fuel Conservation project implemented by the company in 2005 and that led to in practical terms a reduction in CO2 of a total of 26 thousand tons by the end of 2006;

2. Fleet renewal, in particular the long-haul fleet since there are as yet no new developments in sight that present significant improvements in terms of efficiency for medium-haul aircraft. During the coming months, the gradual replacement of A310 with the modern A330 aircraft gets underway, thus ensuring around a 20 percent saving in fuel.

Halfway through the next decade it will be the turn of the A340’s followed by the A330's which will be replaced by the latest generation of aircraft thus ensuring further saving of the same level of importance is achieved.

3. Improved average load factor enabling a greater number of passengers to be carried on the same aircraft. 

Continuing along the line mentioned above, the new Lisbon Airport will play a fundamental role in this important battle being waged to diminish the effects of climactic changes. This is because efficient airports enable better operations and reduced aircraft waiting times and as a result the amount of fuel consumed too.

It is also worth emphasizing – a fact also important to the future of air transport in Portugal - that the (swift) decision and construction of the new airport shall enable companies to offer a better quality product (which is currently not possible), and through this valorize the strategic role of this complex within the European context.

The future of national economic activity associated with exports – both of people and cargo – of increasing importance in current times, depends to a large extent on the construction of a new airport that ensures the necessary levels of efficiency and growth in air traffic.

By focusing on the importance of preventing climactic change it was my intention to alert to some of the aspects that are currently priorities to the healthy development of air transport. I hope to have contributed to increasing awareness that these questions are intimately associated with the future of economic activity in general.