An interview with Philippe de Saint Aulaire,
Head of Environmental Affairs, Airbus

As the largest commercial aircraft, is the A380 also the largest polluter?
When the A380 enters into service, it will be the most efficient aircraft regarding CO₂ emissions. Additionally, it consumes a little less than three litres of fuel per person per 100 kilometres. By comparison, the average car in Europe consumes more than five litres per person given average load factors.

In the last 40 years, aviation fuel consumption has fallen 50%. Furthermore, the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe has set a very challenging target of reducing consumption another 50% by 2020. We are researching how to do this, questioning the design of the aircraft and how it is operated.

What do you do with aircraft when they become obsolete?
The first Airbus aircraft are reaching the end of their lives and we believe that our customers will soon be required to dismantle them. With the so-called PAMELA (Process for Advanced Management of End of Life of Aircraft) project we are preparing to store and dismantle civil aircraft in environmentally friendly, safe and economic conditions.

What is the significance of Airbus’s aim of achieving ISO 14001 certification for sites and products by the end of 2006?
We want to integrate environmental matters into our culture. The ISO 14001 environmental management system will help ensure that environmental aspects are considered in every part of Airbus and will enable us to measure our progress.

Can the environment be a source of competitive advantage?
As stakeholder pressure grows, the environment is becoming a real issue for airlines. It is also conceivable that passengers may in future select their flights depending on the environmental performance of the aircraft. So, yes, environment is on the way to becoming a significant competitive issue.