Climate change could force airlines to carry fewer passengers, according to new research out of Europe.
Study lead author Jonny Williams, from England’s University of Reading said rising temperatures would impact aircraft take-offs.
Dr Williams said scientists studied how hotter air affected aircraft performance during take-off at 30 sites across Europe.
“When air gets warmer, it becomes less dense, making it harder for planes to generate lift, the force that allows them to fly,” he said.
Dr Williams said the research focused on the Airbus A320, a common aircraft used for short and medium-haul flights across Europe.
“By the 2060s, some airports with shorter runways may need to reduce their maximum take-off weight by the equivalent of approximately 10 passengers per flight during summer months.”
He said of the sites studied, the findings suggested four popular tourist destinations would be most affected: Chios, Greece; Pantelleria, Italy; Rome Ciampino, Italy and San Sebastian, Spain.
“A warming world has an impact on people and businesses worldwide, and we are now showing one way it could increase the price of your summer holiday.
“Hot summer days when smaller airports have to reduce their weight will get more common. Our research shows conditions which used to happen about one day in a summer may happen three or four days a week by the 2060s.”
Dr Williams said while larger airports, like London Heathrow and Gatwick, had runways long enough to handle the A320 even in extreme heat, they may face challenges with larger aircraft like the Airbus A380, which needs more runway space.
He said the problem may also affect airport operations beyond simply reducing passenger numbers.
“Airlines might need to reschedule flights to cooler parts of the day, and runway maintenance needs could increase as surfaces degrade faster in extreme heat.”
Read the full study: Quantifying the Effects of Climate Change on Aircraft Take-Off Performance at European Airports.
