From 2017 onwards, the aviation industry saw a lot of words added to its lexicon. One was “flygskam” referring to “flight-shaming” i.e. an anti-flying movement started to reduce the environmental impact of aviation. We then had “Tågskryt”– another Swedish word that literally means “train brag” encouraging people to “brag” for taking trains as their mode of transport as opposed to flights. There was the “We Stay on the Ground” movement directed at not flying and choosing to stay wherever people were at- again directed at cutting down the Carbon footprint from aviation. In a list of the hard-earned words related to aviation shaming, perhaps “fuel tankering” i.e. carrying extra fuel just because the aircraft can wield its way around not refueling at a destination- is the latest addition.
What is Fuel Tankering?
What would you make of the aviation sector if you knew that aircraft tend to emit 901,000 tonnes of superfluous CO2 just by carrying extra fuel? This extra fuel is carried so that the aircraft doesn’t have to refuel at a different destination, where the price of fuel is greater. It is said that the aviation world adds up to 900,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year just by carrying extra fuel.
If picturing 900,000 tonnes of CO2 is difficult, try these parallels: this is equivalent to emissions that of 2800 transatlantic flights would make or the emissions that a city of as many as 100,000 individuals. Surely, the aviation sector could be doing much better, especially at a time when the Sustainable Air Fuel market is expected to see a ripsnorter of a rise anytime soon or when airports are trying to be Carbon neutral.
Why is Fuel Tankered
The Aviation Sector is not a Carbon emission-mongerer as is sometimes portrayed. A figure of 2.5-3.5% of contributions backs this thesis up but with the aviation sector projected to see a gargantuan rise- as was backed up by the historic order of hundreds of Airbus and Boeing by Air India- the emissions will rise. And sustainable air-fuel or electric aircraft are some of the ways to curb it. And so should fuel tankering.
It is said that the difference in prices of fuel for aircraft at different locations is what pushes airlines to be involved in fuel tankering. When fuel is tankered, 286,000 tonnes of additional fuel is burned up but it does save airlines 265 million Euros per year.
It is often reported that fuel accounts for as much as a quarter of the airlines’ operating expenses. And when tinkering with this quarter accounts for as much as 265 Million euros and that too, in saving, it does give a picture as to why fuel tankering is there.
How many aircraft are involved in Fuel Tankering
According to the report of ECAC we quoted above:
“Over the 10 million annual flights…… it was estimated that 2.1 million are able to perform fuel tankering, distributed as follows: 1.6 million flights are able to perform full tankering (16.5%) and 0.45 million flights are able to perform partial tankering (4.5%).”
One of the major airlines operating the 2.1 million flights was British Airways, which was found to be involved in fuel tankering producing as much as 18,000 tonnes of CO2- something they hope and pledge to work on.