Scrapping business class could halve aviation emissions – new study

a day ago

Air travel is difficult to decarbonize, with increasing passenger numbers.
Electric planes and sustainable fuels are not yet significantly reducing emissions.
Efficiency improvements, like rethinking cabin layouts, could cut emissions by up to half.
From 1980 to 2019, seat occupancy rose from 63% to 82%, reducing empty seats and emissions.
Aviation contributes 2%-3% of global CO₂, but 4% to global warming including secondary effects.
Operational efficiency (passenger-kilometres per CO₂) is often overlooked in aviation.
Research shows short-term efficiency gains could halve aviation's climate impact.
Short empty flights are the least fuel-efficient, while long-haul flights are more efficient.
Efficiency varies widely by route, region, airline, and aircraft model.
Budget airlines are more efficient due to higher seat density.
Newer aircraft models like Boeing 787 and Airbus 320neo are the most efficient.
Increasing seat occupancy to 95% could cut emissions by 16%.
Using only the most efficient aircraft could save 27%-34% of emissions.
All-economy cabin layouts could reduce emissions by 26%-57%.
Travel inequality between economy and business/first class fliers significantly impacts emissions.

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