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Airbus A380: Efficient but not Effective - Peter Goodwin, 15 February 2005

To: Bristol Evening Post

Alex Tsander (February 15th) oversimplifies the issues surrounding the A380 airbus, in his efforts to deflect Green criticism.

True, if the airbus operated at its full capacity, and did no more than replace passenger miles currently travelled in smaller aircraft, then it would save a little on net polluting emissions. That's the scenario Mr Tsander would have us believe.

Sadly, it doesn't work out like that in real life, and if it did, no-one would be making such a huge investment with no significant new income promised.

No, the airbus is designed and marketed with growth as an essential part of the business plan. And by helping to drive the growth in flying, it will accelerate the rise in pollution at altitude - the very place where it does the most immediate damage. So airbus is not part of the solution, it's part of the problem.

Air transport already enjoys a unique freedom to pollute - it's not covered by Kyoto limits, and the kerosene fuel is not even taxed. No wonder it's the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Tony Blair believes that the electorate would not stand for any change to this cosy privilege. I only hope we are not so blinkered as he believes.

Peter Goodwin