EU aims to straighten air routes to cut CO2

The European Commission launched a plan to straighten out aviation routes today to cut fuel costs and carbon dioxide emissions growth from soaring numbers of aircraft.

The EU has set itself the ambitious goal of cutting CO2 emissions by a fifth by 2020 compared to 1990, aiming to lead by example as it heads into global climate talks next year with big emitters like China, India and the United States.

Airlines are responsible for about 3 percent of Europe's CO2 output and traffic is expected to double by 2020.

Aircraft waste millions of tonnes of fuel as they zig-zag their way between national airspaces in the 27-nation bloc.

"Look at the flight paths -- it's ridiculous," European Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani told reporters. "Look at the costs in terms of pollution and delays."

Simplifying the 27 airspaces to just nine is seen as a quick way of cutting fuel costs, curbing emissions growth and maintaining safety in ever more crowded skies.

The Single European Sky II package builds on a 2004 proposal that ran into insurmountable opposition from EU countries over a wide range of issues including reluctance to give up national control over air space.

"The fact is the sky remains broken up into 27 different skies," said Tajani. "The consequence is that aircraft on average fly 49 km more than is strictly necessary. Today we spend 10 to 15 minutes too long in our planes."

A Commission report highlighted that the existing route from Lyon in France to Frankfurt in Germany was 40.7 percent longer than necessary, while the route from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Milan in Italy was 23 percent too long.

A simplified airspace could reduce emissions by 10 percent, saving 16 million tons of CO2 a year and about €2.4 billion ($3.74 billion) of wasted fuel and other costs.

The plan would include increasing airport capacity, upgrading radar technology and expanding the power of the European Aviation Safety Agency so instead of just airlines it also covers airports and air traffic management.

Tajani, who once worked as an air traffic controller, acknowledged the task would not be easy but said resistance was softening in Germany, which had previously raised objections.

"It's a question of overcoming the idea that national sovereignty prevails over airspace," he said. "Some air forces in some member states have doubts about collaborating."