ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the issue of the sustainability of aviation. Aviation is not sustainable in its present constellation. This has become a serious issue since the world community has adopted climate change as a prime political issue. Aviation consumes massive amounts of fossil fuels. It is not that aircraft are excessive burners of fuel, given the distances that they cover with their payload. The fuel burn of aircraft has gone down dramatically over the years. Today’s passenger aircraft burn almost the same amount of fuel, on a per passenger/kilometre basis, as a motorcar. The combination of a quantity-driven sector and its massive CO2 emissions cannot continue forever. Nevertheless, the industry anticipates on a further growth of aviation, expecting a doubling of 2016 output by 2035, according to the forecasts of the major suppliers.