ATA welcomes results of ICAO HLM, cautious on 2% fuel goal

The US airline industry generally welcomed the results of last week's ICAO High Level Meeting on Climate Change but appeared to be taking a guarded approach to the organization's call for a 2% annual improvement in fuel efficiency through 2020, in line with previous comments from IATA and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization.

In a statement, Air Transport Assn. President and CEO James May said the ICAO declaration stopped short "of adopting the comprehensive set of proposals forwarded by the aviation industry, [but] laid the groundwork for them by endorsing continuing fuel efficiency improvements as the backbone for aviation emissions management, agreeing that additional goals--such as carbon-neutral growth in the medium term--need to be considered, and prompting States to invest in technology, infrastructure and sustainable alternative aviation fuels." (ATWOnline, Oct. 13)

The ATA statement made no mention of ICAO's call for a 2% improvement in fuel efficiency in the near term, which is higher than the 1.5% gain proposed by industry stakeholders. Asked by ATWOnline to address the 2% figure, VP-Environmental Affairs Nancy Young stated, "While the ICAO High Level Meeting endorsed an aspirational goal for a 'global annual average fuel efficiency improvement of 2% over the medium term until 2020,' it recognized that States need to make a significant commitment in investment in air traffic control modernization, sustainable aviation alternative fuels and aircraft and engine research and development to help the industry meet its 1.5% annual average commitment and hopefully go beyond that. Industry clearly has stepped up to do its part. It is time for the States to do so as well."