Berlin, 11.11.2017: Airlines are only modernizing their fleets at a slow pace. Even the best airline fleets emit on average 20% more carbon dioxide per kilometer than the most fuel-efficient planes, for example, the Airbus A350-900 or Boeing 787-9, operating at full capacity. In contrast, airline fleets with only a medium level of carbon efficiency in technology and operation even release twice as many carbon emissions per kilometer than the most fuel-efficient aircraft. Only one in a hundred planes belongs to this class of highly efficient aircraft. These are findings of the new atmosfair Airline Index (AAI) 2017, presented today in Bonn at the UN climate conference COP 23.

Global carbon emissions of airlines increased by a good 4%, while the kilometers flown have increased by almost 7%. There is no sign yet again this year of the necessary decoupling of growth in air traffic and carbon emissions. “Our findings show that aviation worldwide is not on track to meet the 1.5 degree or the 2 degree target for global warming”, says Dietrich Brockhagen, CEO of atmosfair. “While some airlines have significantly improved their carbon efficiency by purchasing new aircraft, the pace of modernization is not fast enough from a global standpoint.”

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