The Future of Sustainable Air Travel: Can Flying Ever Be Sustainable?

Aviation is one of the largest contributing factors to climate change with almost 5% of carbon emissions globally coming from the aviation sector. To put this into perspective, this could mean 200 million people (the population of the UK, Germany and Spain combined) being displaced by climate change in 2050. Without immediate action, we are putting our own lives in jeopardy. The urgent question remains: Can flying ever be sustainable?

Understanding sustainability

Sustainability is defined as ‘a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. In aviation, this translates to the goal set by the UN of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The Role of Biofuels

One promising solution to our ever increasing problem would be biofuels. Biofuels are liquid fuels produced from renewable biological sources, such as plants and algae. They offer a solution to the challenge of flying sustainably as they reduce our environmental impact when we fly. 

There are two main types of biofuels:

• Biofuels can be produced from vegetable oils, such as palm oil, and algae. These oils can be processed to create a blend that can be used as a substitute for traditional jet fuels. 
• Additionally, with new technology another type of biofuel called E-fuels has emerged. E-fuels have the potential to reshape the way we travel. They involve scrubbing CO₂ from the air and converting it back into jet fuel through a circular process. This process utilizes renewable electricity to produce synthetic kerosene, also known as E-kerosene. This E-kerosene can then be directly used as a jet fuel. This approach has the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of aviation fuels. 

A study by NASA indicates that using biofuels could lower the exhaust emissions of planes by 50 to 70%. Thus, this strategy is crucial for meeting the net zero CO₂ emissions goal by 2050, as technology continues to improve.

Innovations in Aircraft Design

Another key solution involves implementing design tweaks on new aircraft. For example, winglets on planes (see photograph below - winglets). As the name suggests, winglets are inspired by birds, as they increase the fuel efficiency of an aircraft. 

The concept of winglets revolves around the idea of reducing induced drag - a type of aerodynamic drag that occurs due to the creation of wingtip vortices, which are swirling air patterns that form at the wingtips of an aircraft during flight. By adding a vertical or angled extension to the wingtips, winglets disrupt these vortices, redirecting the airflow around the wingtip, decreasing the drag.

Consequently, They enhance fuel efficiency, making planes faster and more fuel efficient, whilst cutting down on emissions.

The Airbus A350 is one of the many plane models that incorporates these design tweaks, achieving 25% less fuel burn and CO₂ emissions per seat compared to other older plane models. As travellers ourselves, we could choose to fly this plane, as it will cut down on our environmental footprint. 

Design tweaks are constantly being added to new aircraft, in order to meet our 2050 net zero carbon emissions target.

The Promise of Hydrogen Powered Aircraft

The most futuristic solution that could reshape the entire aviation sector is hydrogen powered aircraft. According to the BBC, hydrogen planes are to begin flying commercially around 2035. 

Hydrogen powered aircraft will have extremely low greenhouse gas emissions as hydrogen’s usage in fuel cells allows for zero-emission propulsion (including NOx and particles). When burnt in a turbine engine, very low particle emissions can be expected, as well as reduced NOx emissions.

Even though problems such as building costs and safety worries exist, this new aircraft has the potential to meet our sustainability goals and be more eco-friendly. If they are built as predicted, this will greatly contribute to achieving the 2050 target.

Industry Commitment to Change

Despite the challenges we may face, the aviation industry is committed to reducing carbon emissions. 

In October 2023, the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) led two weeks of negotiations involving 184 nations to agree on CO₂ emissions reduction measures. These include ramping up innovative aircraft technologies, “streamlining” flight operations and the increased production and use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Additionally, many countries and organizations are giving incentives to airlines to use sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

Achieving this goal will require the collaborative efforts of the entire aviation industry, including airlines, airports, air navigation service providers and manufacturers alongside the government to ensure our targets are met on time.

Making Responsible Choices

Travelers can also play a role in promoting sustainability. By making an informed choice with regard to the sustainability on our next flight, we can minimize our carbon footprint. This could mean paying a slightly increased fee to use SAF or choosing a more efficient aircraft type. If we make informed decisions when flying, sustainable air travel by 2050, is achievable so long as we stick to our current trajectory of improvement.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we will be able to fly sustainably by 2050 if we embrace new technologies such as biofuels and hydrogen-powered aircraft. However, we also need to incorporate all of the above, as focusing on just one aspect will not be enough. This means staying committed to our goals and making smart choices when we travel. 

By making smart decisions when flying, we can ensure that by 2050, we can travel knowing we are not harming the environment.