Why is flying the least environmentally friendly form of travel?

Question

Modern airliners, such as the new model of the Boeing 747, only produce 75g of CO2 per passenger Km. Most modern cars produce over 150g of CO2 per passenger Km. How is flying worse than driving? I do realise that cars can carry more than 1 passenger, but most of the time I don't think they do.

I think that flying is the most un-environmentally friendly mainly because of the media. When being told about how to reduce your Carbon Footprint, flying less is always a big part of the answer.

Like I said above, I do realise that a 747 does produce more CO2 than a single car. However, to transport 416 people in a car each, as per the norm, a plane quickly becomes more environmentaly friendly.

Answer 1

Absolutely correct. On medium distances a modern aircraft is greener than a car, and possibly better than a train. The snags are that the aircraft exhaust is released at high level, and may contain higher than expected levels of CO and NOX (They don't have cat. converters) A train can be better if the power is generated in a green fashion, but the building of the infrastructure is still an issue. For short distances the train ought to win hands down, but there is some research that suggests otherwise. For the really long trip there is unfortunately no option. Of course there is the convenience factor as well. I would spend many hours in my car just to avoid check-in at Gatwick!

Answer 2

Here is another interesting thing. Flying is the safest form of transportation by far. It's been proven.

How many car crashes are there every day, hour, minute second. How many times to police cars have to patrol the roads because people are disobeying the law. How many times do firetrucks which burn a HELL of a lot more gas than the average car, have to respond to a car crash? The cost of cars could be equal to that. Flying, we don't have police. We have people behind radar screens...our firetrucks normallyjust sit in a garage and MAYBE, just MAYBE get called out every 1-2 months. I mean, i know it's a stretch, but in all reality, it does take a lot to support driving in a "gas" perspective. and also, if you look at california, where i live, i can go for 3-4 miles and see maybe 5 SUVs or trucks per one economic car. There is also newer jets such as the 737-700/800 i believe that are EXTREMEMLY economicly friendly beacuse it burn less fuel , and is more effecient. so the aviation industry is also in on the fight against global warming, but also trying to save a buck at the same time.

Answer 3

Modern aircraft and engines tend to be more environmentally friendly than a bus (which Green people are always telling us to take rather then cars).
The reason why they are made out to be villians is because everyone forgets that rather than doing maybe 50 miles for a bus these jets are regularly doing 8- 10000 miles.
Of course they are going to emit more CO2, but per passenger per mile its the cleanest fossil fuel burning method of transportation that exists.
Its a myth that airliners are just polluting machines, in fact they make up a tiny fraction of all CO2 emmissions all over the world, factories and cars are the worst.

Answer 4

One CANNOT make such a statement without qualifying all the parameters. Example, if we only talk CO2, put two people in a car and the emissions are equal, per your data. Put four and it is less. You have not taken into account additional items as what it cost to produce the plane, per passengers carried over it's life time and the same for the car. How much fuel is burned per passenger per Km? How long will you drive the car or SUV verses the cost to make a new one? Cost per Km or road, but must factor in use and the cost of an airfield, per passenger over it's life and on and on.
There is NO simple answer to dinosaurs burned, or cost from ground to grave of any mode of transportation.
Too many people just jump on a fad position and not actually analyze all the facts. I am not pointing fingers at you or any particular person, but stating the facts.

Answer 5

Flying is the most 'environmentally-friendly' way to travel by a long shot! It is better for the environment per person than driving is! Even so-called 'green-cars' like the Toyota Prius are no good either, they make more pollution during their whole life (eg. Production in the factory, driving and end-of-life destuction) than a normal car does! (eg. Renault Megane, Vauxhall Vectra)

Whoever thinks that flying is not 'environmentally-friendly' need their heads looking at! This whole 'be kind to the environment' is pretty much rubbish too!

Answer 6

Per seat mile, airliners are much cleaner than other forms of motor transport. Some people think that long distance travel in itself is not green, though.

Another factor- an airplane lasts a really long time (30 years) and is 90% recyclable. That is FAR better than a car.

That, and other costs, are why it costs- ticket price- about 7 cents (US) per mile to fly, but a whopping 48.5 cents (all costs included) to drive. Even with 5 people in a car- truly uncomfortable- that's more per seat mile. And that is if the car is moving at best economy highway speed. Cars sit at lights and in traffic a LOT.

Answer 7

You are assuming that CO2 in the quantities produced by transport are harming the environment.

It might be untrendy to say so, but I disagree with this. On a global scale, human produced CO2 is negligible, despite the hysteria whipped up by the press and governments.

Also, before anyone mentions the report by loads of scientists which says otherwise, that is bogus; many of the authors of such reports have withdrawn their support, but are still listed as contributers. A lot of the rest support it because their research grants depend on the global warming lie.

Answer 8

What makes you think that flying is the least environmentally friendly form of travel? Here's an interesting one though for those who answered that an SUV is the worst. The Toyota Prius hybrid is less environmentall friendly than a Hummer. When considering the manufacturing process of the hybrid's batteries. So be careful about junking that Grand Cherokee to protect the environment.

Answer 9

Boeing 747 - 416 passengers: 416 x 75g = 31,200

Common auto - 5 passengers: 5 x 150g = 750

Even if your numbers for the 747 were correct, an airliner is still more polluting then even 30 cars combined in one flight.

Get your facts straight.

Answer 10

that is a REALLY good question. I'm going to research this and come back to you with a proper answer. I don't believe flying is less environmentally friendly than getting a bus. Lets try to find out!
My answer is I DON'T KNOW!!!!