Supporting Britain to reach Net Zero

Airspace modernisation will play a crucial role in the decarbonisation of the aviation sector and getting the UK to net zero by creating more fuel-efficient flights.

In today’s airspace structures, aircraft are often required to fly further than necessary or are not able to climb or descend continuously. This is because of the complex interactions between descending and ascending aircraft that must be managed tactically by air traffic controllers. It means that aircraft are often required to fly for long periods of level flight burning more fuel and creating additional CO2 emissions.

Modernising airspace will make it easier for today’s modern aircraft to fly more direct routes, with improved technology meaning aircraft can conduct quicker climbs and later descents to help reduce emissions as well as their noise footprint on the ground.

Modern technologies mean that aircraft can now absorb delays en-route and achieve more predictable arrival slots. This enables them toto use less fuel and reduce the time spent waiting in aircraft holding patterns.

The Government has committed to net zero in its Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution and has set up the Jet Zero Council with the ambition to achieve the first ever zero emission long haul passenger flight by 2025 (PDF, 302 KB). Modernising airspace will provide the necessary infrastructure to support this.