Airline pilots have challenged the "myth" that air transport is the major cause of carbon dioxide emissions.
Research published by the British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa) said people who attacked air travel used "half truths and untruths" and made passengers feel guilty about taking a flight. But Balpa claim that the aviation industry has done more than any other transport group to cut CO2.
Their research has found that emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides from planes have already been cut by 50% over the last 15 years. Road transport’s CO2 emissions in the UK, however, have increased by 11 million tonnes. It also highlights that world air travel accounts for only 2% to 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions according to the International Panel on Climate Change.
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The union, which represents most of Britain's 10,000 pilots, claim that aviation has become a scapegoat for global warming. They have sent a report to the Government which questions the claim by railway firms that trains were less polluting than aircraft. According to the report pollution would be much worse if we were to replace planes with trains on long-haul journeys.
It said: "While it is true that trains are less polluting than aircraft per passenger per kilometre, that is not true of long journeys over 800 kilometres and it is not true of the new generation of high speed trains in use on mainland Europe and soon to come to Britain."
Captain Mervyn Granshaw, the union's chairman, said: "Something certainly has to be done about the rising level of carbon dioxide emissions and we will play our part, but we cannot accept the false accusations our study exposes.
“During the last five years, air travel has been under attack, being accused of almost single-handedly destroying this beautiful planet. And now airline passengers are being made to feel guilty about taking holidays abroad.
"Our report clearly shows that technological advances now being researched will cut aircraft emissions still further. It would be inappropriate therefore, and premature, to restrict air transport at this time.”
Balpa have launched the Beautiful Planet campaign on their website to promote their report, which they say debunks the aviation myth
