The british media BBC Panorama has revealed that more airlines avails itself of a practice, where the planes are being filled with extra fuel to avoid paying higher prices at ankomstlufhavnen.
This practice produces at the same time the extra CO2, which in a european context, annual equivalent emissions of a city with 100,000 inhabitants.
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the BBC Panorama has spoken with several employees in British Airways, which says that this practice is normal.
They say that many airlines have computer systems that calculate on the additional filling of fuel may save them money. If there is money to save, will the employees thought the extra up.
the BBC Panorama is among other things in the possession of some documents showing that British Airways on a recent flight to Italy had about three tons of extra fuel with.
The extra weight meant that the aircraft emitted 600 kg extra CO2 than usual. The savings on the trip was under 40 pounds (349 euros).
the BBC Panorama says that they have seen many internal documents from British Airways, some where up to six tons of extra fuel is loaded on the aircraft. BBC Panorama has also a proof that the practice is done with the airline Easyjet.
The anonymous insider, who has made the BBC aware of this, says, that he finds the British Airways hypocritical.
- Such a large company, who try to save such small amounts, while the emits so much extra CO2, can not be justified with our current climate, he says to BBC.
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in response to the accusation of International Airlines Group, British Airways parent company, announced that they will look at the practice.
British Airways says that it is normal practice in the industry, that fills the extra fuel. Especially for short-haul flights in Europe, where there can be big differences in prices. At the same time say that they are doing it for security and operational reasons.
- Perhaps this is the wrong thing to encourage. We will be sure that our incentives will be in line with the right activities in order to ensure financial sustainability and the sustainability of the environment, says Willie Walsh, ceo of International Airlines Group.
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the airline industry also receives harsh criticism from environmental groups. Among other things Greenpeace.
- here is a classic example of a company that emphasizes profit before the planet. This is the reason why we cannot afford another lost decade, where we believe in corporate greenwash and waiting to reduce emissions on a voluntary basis, said John Sauven, director of Greenpeace Uk.
the Organization which coordinates air traffic in Europe, Eurocontrol has calculated that the practice of extra fuel resulting in 286.000 ton of extra fuel every year, which emits 901.000 tons of extra CO2 a year.
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the comparison showed a study in 2017, to an average dane emits 14,5 tonnes per year.
at the same time, estimates of Eurocontrol, the practice has saved the airlines for 265 million euros (1,98 billion dollars). They estimate that one in five of all european flights are involved in the practice.
Critics believe that the widespread practice undermines flybranchens claims that they are committed to reduce CO2 emissions.
