"We think it's a little bit unfair that the aviation sector is singled out for attack by many environmental groups, maybe because we are more visible than other groups."
Those are the words of Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus, and he's not complaining because his feelings are hurt.
Until China gets it together, Airbus more or less splits the market for commercial jets with Everett, Washington Chicago-based Boeing, and any effort to dampen the industry's rapid growth (aviation is expected to double in size in the next 15 years) is likely to dampen aircraft sales. Environmentalists and the media have been dogging the aviation industry for the the role they play in climate change, and now the airlines and jet makers are fighting back.
Not surprisingly, Anders is adamant that taxes or curbs on air travel are are not the answer to the industry's environmental issues, and that instead, technology and innovation will save the day. To prove his point, he says that large commercial aircraft are approximately 70% more efficient than they were 30 years ago. Eager to connect an Airbus product to this figure, he points out that the A380 superjumbo flies a passenger 100 km using less than a gallon of fuel. The industry average today is 1.3 gallons, and in 1985 it was over two gallons. Boeing's 787 will offer comparable fuel efficiency if it ever actually rolls off the assembly line.
In terms of looking further down the road, Anders is beating the biofuel drum. He he believes that in 20 years up to 30% of all jet fuel could be coming from second generation biofuels that don't chew through arable land or food supplies.
Environmental groups think it's a lot of hot air. Greenpeacesays the sheer size of the aviation biz requires a more immediate solution, and that Virgin Atlantic's recent test flightof a plane partially powered by biofuels was a big publicity stunt. Greenpeace says airlines need to stop looking for a "magic green bullet" and instead curb their seemingly unstoppable growth.
But Anders won't hear it. He says Airbus continues to research earth friendly technologies for its planes, and that the company is spending several million euros a year.
That's several million. From a company that last year reported revenues of 25.9 billion.
Photo: Airbus
