Airport expansion 'could help cut emissions'

A spokesperson for the airline industry has said that, contrary to the protests of environmental campaigners, airport expansion could actually help reduce carbon emissions.

According to Lesley Shepherd, manager of corporate communications at the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), increased capacity could mean that aircraft can land quicker and spend less time in the air.

She claimed that holding patterns are in place at many airports as there is not enough capacity to handle the planes coming in to land.

"You are waiting to land because there aren't enough slots or capacity - so that is pushing up carbon emission," Ms Shepherd said.

"Public perception is that airport expansion actually doesn't help the environment but [it] prevents the unnecessary burning of fuel in the air while aircrafts are waiting to land."

The ERA spokesperson also claimed that simplification and improvement of airports' air traffic control systems could lead to a 12 per cent reduction in output of harmful gases.