The Week In Travel

A significant step towards the aviation industry achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 has been taken this week as the members of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) have now officially adopted this goal. The ICAO, a United Nations body made up of close to 200 countries, announced its commitment to the global target at a meeting in Montreal.

Going forward, the organisation will make use of a number of CO2 reduction measures, including the development of new types of aircraft technology, streamlined flight operations and the increased production and deployment of SAF. The International Air Transport Association, IATA, supported the move, labelling it as ‘an important step forward’.

Travellers based in the North of England and Scotland will now be able to book combined air and rail tickets in a single booking when flying to the US thanks to a new initiative from US carrier Delta and rail operator TransPennine Express. With TransPennine Express’ network including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle, it is hoped that the programme will make the US more accessible for those living in Northern England and Scotland, and vice versa.

Over in Asia, airlines in Japan have increased their capacity after the country’s borders were opened earlier this week. In anticipation of a sizeable boost in demand, Al Nippon Airways has added hundreds more weekly flights to its schedules, while Japan Airlines has also ramped up its flight capacity.

In sustainability news, the US Federal Aviation Administration has given grants of more than $16 million to 14 universities across the country in order to explore potential avenues for greener aviation. The university projects will explore a range of topics including SAF, electronic aircraft, noise reduction, hydrogen propulsion and more.

And finally, a tourist has admitted their ‘shame’ after a trip on the London Eye left them believing they could see all the way to Paris and to the Eiffel Tower, to be specific. Despite the trip having taken place 10 years ago, it wasn’t until this week that they were made aware of the reality - they had been staring in awe at a radio mast in Crystal Palace.