<p class="bodytext">The European Commission hopes to cut carbon dioxide emissions from the aviation industry by up to 10% by making flight paths more direct and reducing delays due to congested airspace.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Planes are sometimes zig-zagging between different blocks of airspace, increasing delays and fuel consumed," European Commissioner for transport Adina Valean said on Tuesday, as she proposed reforms to Europe's air traffic management system.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In 2019, such routes and delays cost the bloc 6 billion euros ($7.1 billion) and pushed out 11.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, the Commission said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Extraordinary measures in 2018 and 2019 during a capacity crisis also led to the re-routing of flights, meaning avoidable emissions could reach 10% of the total. Aircraft pushed to lower altitudes also burn more fuel.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Valean told a news conference that an efficient air traffic management system with more direct routes would reduce emissions and cut costs for airlines.</p>.<p class="bodytext">To achieve this, the Commission suggested air navigation charges should be based on the environmental impact of a flight and a greater role for network manager Eurocontrol. It also called for a European market for air traffic data services.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The proposals come after Europe's airlines, hit by the coronavirus crisis, called for greater flexibility in air traffic management to make it easier to adjust capacity to demand.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Data from airports group ACI Europe points to a "double-dip" air traffic slump, with passenger numbers down 73% in the first two weeks of September.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The reforms would update the Single European Sky initiative of 2004 that sought to end the fragmentation of European airspace and improve safety and cost-efficiency.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Commission proposed a revision of the rules in 2013, but EU governments failed to reach an agreement as Britain and Spain argued over Gibraltar airport. After Brexit, that is no longer an obstacle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Tuesday's proposals will need approval from the European Parliament and the EU's 27 countries to enter into force.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The European Commission hopes to cut carbon dioxide emissions from the aviation industry by up to 10% by making flight paths more direct and reducing delays due to congested airspace.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Planes are sometimes zig-zagging between different blocks of airspace, increasing delays and fuel consumed," European Commissioner for transport Adina Valean said on Tuesday, as she proposed reforms to Europe's air traffic management system.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In 2019, such routes and delays cost the bloc 6 billion euros ($7.1 billion) and pushed out 11.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, the Commission said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Extraordinary measures in 2018 and 2019 during a capacity crisis also led to the re-routing of flights, meaning avoidable emissions could reach 10% of the total. Aircraft pushed to lower altitudes also burn more fuel.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Valean told a news conference that an efficient air traffic management system with more direct routes would reduce emissions and cut costs for airlines.</p>.<p class="bodytext">To achieve this, the Commission suggested air navigation charges should be based on the environmental impact of a flight and a greater role for network manager Eurocontrol. It also called for a European market for air traffic data services.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The proposals come after Europe's airlines, hit by the coronavirus crisis, called for greater flexibility in air traffic management to make it easier to adjust capacity to demand.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Data from airports group ACI Europe points to a "double-dip" air traffic slump, with passenger numbers down 73% in the first two weeks of September.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The reforms would update the Single European Sky initiative of 2004 that sought to end the fragmentation of European airspace and improve safety and cost-efficiency.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Commission proposed a revision of the rules in 2013, but EU governments failed to reach an agreement as Britain and Spain argued over Gibraltar airport. After Brexit, that is no longer an obstacle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Tuesday's proposals will need approval from the European Parliament and the EU's 27 countries to enter into force.</p>