Slowing down your flight speed can improve environmental balance

A new study calls on the aviation industry to take stronger steps to improve its environmental footprint. This includes longer flight times. Is this really possible?

Benjamin Weinman/ch media

Anyone who follows the development of aviation may ask themselves a question: Why does the term “flying shame” arise? Because people are flying again as if the pandemic and climate protests never happened. In 2023, Swiss airline Swiss achieved record sales and record profits. Passenger numbers continue to grow this year.

Yet: In discussions about global warming, many consider aviation the most emblematic industry because of its high emissions levels. That's why many airlines are investing in sustainability efforts, largely out of concerns about upcoming flying regulations and higher taxes.

A new study from the University of Cambridge now provides the industry with advice on how to significantly improve the emissions balance immediately. The researchers said that if an airline reduced its speed by 15%, it would burn 7% less kerosene. Future aircraft should be built with this goal in mind.

longer Atlantic flights

The disadvantage from a passenger's perspective is that the flight is longer. Transatlantic flights will be extended by fifty minutes, according to Cambridge experts. This in turn could reduce airline productivity. However, researchers believe that improving airport efficiency and reducing waiting times could overcome this shortcoming.

Harry Hohmeister captained Switzerland from 2009 to 2015.Photo credit: Christian Beutler/Keystone

Speed ​​limiting options are nothing new. Especially when kerosene prices are high, airlines check them. In 2012, then Swiss boss Harry Hohmeister said in an interview with CH Media: “If we fly slower, we can save fuel, but the whole flight plan will be thrown into chaos.” This is detrimental. ” In other words, kerosene costs will be reduced, but if some connecting flights are canceled due to longer flight times, the savings will be lost due to reduced operational efficiency.

What about today? Swiss spokesman Michael Stief said the slowdown had already begun. All flights are planned to achieve the best and lowest CO2 emissions, taking into account available boarding slots at the airport and other factors. But: “An overall speed reduction of 15% is not possible because then we would reach a certain area of ​​the aerodynamic drag curve where CO2 emissions would increase.” The approach of the Lufthansa subsidiary is similar to that of Cambridge Researchers have conflicting views.

Researchers' doubts

Stief said that according to the planning system and taking into account the latest weather and wind data, altitude and speed are adjusted during the flight, within air traffic control options, in order to reach the destination with the lowest possible CO2 emissions. “When planning flights, we will combine route consumption experience with the support of the latest IT technology to optimize fuel refueling.”

More efficient engines are one means of improving airlines' environmental performance.Photo credit: Christian Beutler/Keystone

Reducing speed is not the only suggestion Cambridge researchers have made to industry to reduce environmental emissions to zero by 2050. Because they do not believe that the measures that have been introduced and announced so far will achieve the desired goals. According to the study, the aviation industry currently contributes 4% to global warming, of which 2.5% is attributed to carbon dioxide emissions.

Meanwhile, Swiss spokesman Steve noted that the goal is not just to optimize kerosene consumption in the air. “When taxiing to the takeoff runway, we start the second engine at a later point but are ready in time for takeoff.” If possible, descents and approaches should be flown with the engines idling and the cockpit The crew ensured minimal drag when landing using buoyancy. “After landing, we shut down the engines not used for taxiing after a cool-down period.”

Continue to serve wealthy clients

SWISS’s new cabin interiors cast doubt on the seriousness of its sustainability efforts.Image: Switzerland

In addition, SWISS is committed to the continued modernization of its fleet and the use of sustainable aviation fuel, so-called SAF, Stief said. The airline has equipped its long-haul Boeing 777 fleet with fuel-efficient aircraft. Through artificial intelligence, it can optimize operations.

However, the case of the new cabins that will be installed on long-haul aircraft from 2025 shows that sustainability has not always been a priority for SWISS. As CH Media has revealed, the luxurious first-class seats – which include heated and cooled seats and XL TV screens – are so heavy that 14 A330s had to have lead plates installed at the rear for balance. We're talking about 1.5 tons, which immediately reduces the positive impact of the slowdown.

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