Report says empty skies may see 38% reduction in airline emissions

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, air travel has been brought to an almost unprecedented standstill. Now, the Australian institute has published a report that says carbon emissions could drop by more than one-third this year due to the lack of air travel.

Airlines’ carbon emissions could drop by that much which could also set the way for a trend that could continue as businesses reassess their need to fly

The industry’s carbon-dioxide emissions between Feb. 1 and March 19 fell by more than 10 million tons from the same period a year ago as airlines scrapped flights during the coronavirus outbreak, the research body said in a report. Traffic forecasts by the International Air Transport Association suggest airlines’ emissions could drop 38% in 2020.

Businesses barred from flying have instead turned to online alternatives to face-to-face meetings including Zoom Video Communications. The teleconferencing company has recorded more active users in the first two months of 2020 than in all of 2019. Commercial aviation accounts for about 2% of global carbon emissions, according to IATA.