Study shows heavy costs for airline 2050 net zero targets

In the Netherlands, in a new study, SEO Amsterdam Economics (SEO) and Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) calculate the expenditures necessary to achieve net zero aircraft CO2 emissions along the Destination 2050 pathway. The investment needs and associated cost are identified for the four main mechanisms of emissions reduction: technology, air traffic management (ATM) and operations, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and economic measures. 

Expenditures needed to reach net zero aircraft emissions for European aviation by 2050 require considerable additional efforts compared to business as usual. The premiums paid towards new aircraft technologies, air traffic management, sustain-able aviation fuels and negative emissions amount to €820 billion over the 32-year period. A successful, on-time decarbonization therefore requires sufficient access to finance and public investments, which in turn depend on supportive legislation.