Recession cuts BA's emissions

British Airway’s emissions will fall over the winter as the carrier parks 16 aircraft.

The iconic British airline has cut four per cent of its capacity in the wake of a £401-million pre-tax loss in the year to the end of March – its worst performance since privatisation in 1987.

But the carrier’s longer-term carbon abatement measures may also be threatened by the losses.

BA was planning to replace some of its Boeing 747 fleet with 24 new Boeing 787 aircraft between 2012 and 2016, and 12 Airbus A380s between 2012 and 2014.

The two new fuel efficient aircraft types can cut the carrier’s carbon emissions by up to 30 per cent compared to using an old Boeing 747.

“We have got committed finance up to the end of 2012, but we are looking at our capital expenditure and talking to our manufacturers and our suppliers,” said a spokesperson.

Aviation will join the EU’s emission trading scheme in 2012, when airlines flying in and out of the EU will have to cut their emissions by 3 per cent compared to levels between 2004 and 2006.

The next year, 2013, airlines will have to cut their emissions by 5 per cent under historical levels.

BA, which emitted 16 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2005, plans to halve its emissions by 2050.