| irlines and the Environment | | | | 30-40% lower fuel usage and emissions than similar |
| The issue of global warming has become much more | | | | capacity older planes or 50 seat jets. The Bombardier |
| important in recent years and more people are | | | | Q400 also has an Active Noise and Vibration |
| concerned about how the choices they make impact | | | | Suppression system that makes it significantly quieter |
| on the environment. One of the industries which has | | | | than older planes. |
| been particularly harshly criticised is the aviation | | | | To help customers understand the environmental |
| industry. Environmentalists single out low-cost airlines | | | | impact that their Flybe flights will have, Flybe has |
| such as Ryanair and Easyjet, as they claim that | | | | introduced eco-labelling. The eco-label has been |
| short-haul flights are especially damaging and the | | | | designed to be similar to that used on white goods |
| rock-bottom prices that these airlines charge | | | | such as fridges and washing machines, giving a range |
| encourages people to take more flights than they | | | | of environmental information on each aircraft. The |
| would otherwise. Aircraft noise is another contentious | | | | labels will be seen during the online ticket booking |
| issue as illustrated by the protests surrounding the | | | | process and will be displayed on the aircraft and on |
| approval of Heathrow’s third runway. | | | | the advertising and onboard literature. The scheme has |
| Flybe UK has taken the approach of attempting to | | | | been recognised in a report by the House of |
| reduce the environmental impact of air travel. One of | | | | Commons Treasury Select Committee, which urged all |
| the ways Flybe is doing this is by upgrading their fleet | | | | airlines to provide consumers with the environmental |
| of aircraft; they have recently added Embraer 195 jets | | | | footprint of each flight when they purchase tickets. |
| to their fleet. The new planes use 20% less fuel than | | | | Through Flybe’s carbon offset scheme |
| the BAe 146 aircraft that Flybe intends to phase out in | | | | travellers can choose to offset the environmental |
| the next few years, along with their Boeing 737 planes. | | | | impact of their flight. The scheme is run by PURE, |
| Emissions will also be reduced by up to 25% and noise | | | | which is just one of four carbon-offsetting companies |
| by up to 35%. The new planes will operate alongside | | | | who meet the UK government’s guidelines. |
| Flybe’s Bombardier Q400 planes which have | | | | |