RAA 2007: Europeans call for clarity on emissions trading
Higher numbers of regional airline travelers in Europe have not meant greater environmental impact, according to European Regions Airline Association (ERA)

Higher numbers of regional airline travelers in Europe have not meant greater environmental impact, according to European Regions Airline Association (ERA) director-general Mike Ambrose. Rather, the industry is flying bigger aircraft at record passenger load factors (PLFs)–the highest in 20 years of ERA data collection.

Last year intra-European airlines carried 8.2 percent more passengers than in the previous year on 1.3 percent more sectors (down from a 3-percent growth rate from 2005 to 2006). Meanwhile, load factors reached 63.9 percent, up almost 2.5 percentage points, as average capacity reached 70 seats.