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Air travel 'brings significant advantages'

A member of the aviation industry has stressed that the climate change debate should consider the significant benefits of a thriving air transport industry.

Sean McNamara, general manager for infrastructure and environment at the European Regions Airlines Association, said that aviation is sometimes seen as an easy scapegoat in the debate over carbon emissions.

"Air transport is a very headline grabbing form of transport, but the reality is that within the EU we generate about 1.5 per cent of the total CO2 emissions," Mr McNamara said.

He went on to stress the importance of EU member states reducing their emissions as much as possible, but said that there is no need to "get hysterical" about aviation.

"You have to balance the effect we have on the environment with the social and economic advantages we bring to people in life," Mr McNamara said.

The growth in the aviation market has offered massive benefits to popular holiday destinations such as Zante, with increasing numbers of tourists taking advantage of low-cost flights.

Article ID: 450, Posted: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 09:23:06 GMT