Virgin’s Chief Unveils Plan to Hack Off Emissions

Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson proposed last week changes to aircraft movements at busy airports and the way planes land under a plan he said would cut the world’s aviation emissions by up to 25 percent.

Mr. Branson, who last week committed to spending all the profits from his airline and rail businesses to combat global warming, is lobbying airlines and airports to weigh his proposal to slash emissions.

He proposed “starting grids” be set up at major airports which would allow a plane to be towed from its stand by a small tug closer to the runway before takeoff, reducing the time engines are running.

At a press conference in New York, Branson said London Gatwick would serve as a testing ground “as soon as possible.”

“We’re talking about tens of millions of tons of CO2 saved around the world and one of the first responses I got to this idea was from the head of Gatwick, Paul Griffiths, who said ‘let’s go for it, we’d love to have Gatwick be one of the greenest airports in the world,’” Mr. Branson said

Branson’s proposal also included a more fuel-efficient way for planes to land. He said airlines can also reduce the weight of planes by using lighter materials and even removing empty champagne and beer bottles before take-off.

International aviation is not covered by the Kyoto Protocol on climate change but its emissions are projected to grow, causing concern among environmentalists, especially as the low-cost airline sector booms in Europe.