The proposed third runway at Heathrow Airport should not be approved unless the aviation industry commits to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, according to project advisers. A report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC), an independent body, stated that expansion would only be permissible if airlines commit to greener fuel.
The CCC outlined methods for the industry to reduce emissions by 2050, including government requirements for the industry to cover decarbonisation costs and investment in sustainable aviation fuel. The report also recommended engineered removal machines to capture and store carbon dioxide.
However, the report notes that if the industry bears the costs of sustainable aviation fuels and emissions removal, these costs would likely be passed on to ticket prices. Estimates suggest return ticket prices could increase by around £150 for Alicante and £400 for New York by 2050. The CCC also highlighted uncertainty regarding the mass deployment of these solutions within the net zero timeline.
A Heathrow spokesperson stated that expansion must deliver both economic growth and meet the UK’s net zero targets. The Department for Transport (DfT) affirmed that any expansion proposal would need to align with net zero targets and mentioned investments in sustainable aviation fuel and cleaner technologies.