Mr. Willie Walsh:

The environment is a critical issue for our industry. I am pleased to say that the airline industry last year committed to achieving net zero in 2050. Therefore, despite being in the depth of the worst crisis we have ever seen, the industry recognised that it had to align with the science and the global government ambition to achieve net zero in 2050.

The challenge for our industry is that decarbonising aviation is extremely difficult. In 2019, we represented as an industry approximately 2.5% of global CO2. That was clearly disrupted during 2021 and 2022 and, indeed, it will be slightly disrupted next year. However, we were at approximately 2.5%. The issue for our industry that we fully recognise is that going forward, as other industries decarbonise, our contribution will increase. What we have tried to do is identify a path to net zero in 2050. A number of things will contribute to that but we have been very careful not to base it on some new technology that may exist. There is much discussion in our industry about hydrogen-powered aircraft. Realistically, we are not going to see a commercial hydrogen-powered aircraft before 2035. At scale, it will be beyond 2050 before we see that. That is the reason we see sustainable aviation fuel as being the best option and of critical importance to our industry. The good thing about sustainable aviation fuel is that the science is proven. We have multiple pathways and fleet stocks that can be used to generate it and they are increasing. It is what we call a drop-in fuel. There is no investment required in infrastructure at airports or the aircraft. The aircraft that are flying today can fly, and are currently rated to fly, on a 50% mix of sustainable aviation fuel and traditional jet kerosene. Going forward, that will move to 100%. Sustainable aviation fuel is, therefore, a real option for us. Investment in new technology such as new aircraft is also of significant importance. We can see airlines doing that. New generation aircraft are typically 20%, 25% and sometimes 40% more efficient than the aircraft they will replace.

A very important issue for governments, and one that has been highlighted by our fellow countryman, Mr. Eamonn Brennan, director general of EUROCONTROL, is the achievement of the single European sky in Europe. It is estimated that could reduce CO2 from the industry by approximately 10% to 12%. There is no technological impediment and no investment required. The investment has already been made. What we need is the political will to move forward with the single European sky agenda, which has been around for years. That would make a big difference to CO2 emissions in Europe. Sustainable aviation fuel is critical, however. There is an opportunity in Ireland to generate and produce sustainable fuels through a number of pathways.

I would encourage the Government to look at those options. The beauty of it is that it will reduce the dependence on importing oil, generate jobs that are sustainable and make a huge improvement to the environment. This is a real win-win for everybody. There are challenges, of course, but it is definitely something we would encourage all governments to look at, particularly governments and countries that have not had a traditional source of oil in their country.