ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES & RYANAIR
1. AIRCRAFT NOISE REGULATIONS
Ryanair is subject to international, national, and in some cases, local
noise regulations standards. EU and Irish regulations require that all
Ryanair aircraft comply with stage 3 noise requirements since April 2002.
All of Ryanair’s aircraft currently comply with these regulations.
Certain airports in the UK (including London Stansted and London Gatwick)
and in continental Europe have established local noise restrictions, including
limits on the number of hourly and daily operations or the time of such
operations.
2. RYANAIR’S POLICY ON NOISE & EMISSIONS
Ryanair is committed to reducing emissions and noise and has undertaken
a fleet replacement programme which is replacing the Boeing 737-200 aircraft
fleet with brand new ‘next generation’ Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
These ‘next generation’ aircraft have less emissions, lower
fuel burn, greater seat density and quieter engines which significantly
reduce the impact on the environment. This replacement programme will
be fully complete by December 2005. Ryanair’s future growth plans
include only an environmentally friendly Boeing 737-800 ‘next generation’
aircraft. The total value of the fleet replacement and expansion programme
is €7.75bn.
At a distance of 2kms, a Boeing 737-800 ‘next generation’
aircraft makes less noise than a domestic vacuum cleaner.
Ryanair has distinctive operational characteristics that are helpful
to the general environment:
- No late night departures of aircraft which reduces noise emissions
- Reducing the per passenger emissions through higher load factors
- Operating fuel efficient Boeing 737-800 ‘next generation’
aircraft, reducing fuel usage per seat by 45%
- Superior utilisation of existing infra-structure by operating to/from
under-utilised airports throughout Europe.
- Direct routes avoid connecting to a second or third aircraft at congested
hub
3. EMISSIONS CHARGING
Ryanair is opposed to emissions charging. Ryanair has and continues,
to offer the lowest fares in Europe, to make passenger travel affordable
and accessible to ordinary European consumers. To impose a charge on the
emissions of the aircraft will increase air fares and discourage competition
in the market resulting in less choice for consumers. Flying should not
be confined only to the rich. Affordable air travel is the right of all
ordinary people.
Any proposed imposition of an emissions trading scheme on airlines would
enable the high cost flag carriers to achieve their objectives of increasing
prices reducing competition. This would greatly benefit the high cost
flag carrier airlines in the EU who have smaller aircraft, considerably
lower load factors, have a much higher fuel burn per passenger and who
operate into already inefficient congested airports.
4. FUEL EMISSIONS
A Boeing 737-800 ‘next generation’ aircraft with a 70% load
factor uses LESS fuel per passenger kilometre than a car with just one
occupant.
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