Hey urban nomads! Not too long ago, news were circulating that the Singapore Airlines is considering to launch a no-destination flights from Changi Airport in order to engage the public and save the business.

Cabin of the Singapore Airlines flight

It was found that 75% of the people surveyed were glad to pay for flights to nowhere and 60% would prefer if the flight is 2 hours long (Wei, 2020). Well, I’m sure many of us miss travelling and perhaps this flight to nowhere is the closest alternative we have to an overseas trip. But is this really a good option especially considering the amount of pollution it will bring to the earth?

CO₂ Emissions

Impacts of emissions from air travel

Taking off, cruising and landing all require the burning of fuel which releases gas pollutants into the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. CO₂ emissions take up the largest proportion (70%) of aircraft emissions and it has the same direct warming effect as when fossil fuel is combusted (Overton, 2019). CO₂ is a greenhouse gas which prevents heat from escaping from the atmosphere and traps heat, causing temperature to rise. Although this is a natural phenomenon, the increase in CO₂ emissions that humans have added causes enhanced greenhouse effect which causes global warming. CO₂ has the ability to accumulate in the atmosphere and 20% of it stays in the atmosphere for thousands of years (Overton, 2019).

Also, takeoffs and ascent require much more energy (75% of fuel usage) than cruising hence flying nonstop is more energy efficient than multiple stops (Weise, 2018). This means that Singapore Airlines’ flight to nowhere comparatively consumes “more” energy compared to normal haul flights.

Contrails

Lingering contrails and contrail-induced cirrus clouds

Aside from CO₂, water vapour is also another by-product as hydrogen released from the fuel reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere, and makes up approximately 30% of the emissions (Overton, 2019). Although it has a short lifespan in the atmosphere, it has an indirect impact by forming contrails. Water vapour in the exhaust instantly freezes when the temperature is cold and the small crystals expand as the plane cruises by drawing water vapour from the atmosphere. They are then sustained as contrails which spread horizontally and vertically resulting in cirrus clods. Contrails and cirrus clouds trap infrared rays and generate a warming effect of up to 3 times more than CO₂ (Overton, 2019).

Aviation noise

Aviation noise is the most recognised environmental impact of aviation. “In the UK, over one million people are exposed to aircraft noise above levels recommended for the protection of health” (Aviation Environment Federation, 2020). Aircraft noise can cause sleep disruption and long-term health problems like cardiovascular disease (Aviation Environment Federation, 2020). Behavioural impacts to aircraft noise include disruption of work performance and learning while physiological impacts include stress-related health effects like hypertension and mental health effects (Mahashabde et al., 2011).

Upon outlining all the environmental pollution that flights to nowhere bring about, it is no doubt that environmental groups are concerned and a #SaveSingaporeAirlines initiative was formed to allow the public to submit their ideas on how Singapore Airlines can get revenue without flying.

References

Aviation Environment Federation. (2020).   Retrieved from https://www.aef.org.uk/what-we-do/noise/

Mahashabde, A., Wolfe, P., Ashok, A., Dorbian, C., He, Q., Fan, A., . . . Waitz, I. A. (2011). Assessing the environmental impacts of aircraft noise and emissions. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 47(1), 15-52. doi:10.1016/j.paerosci.2010.04.003

Overton, J. (2019). Fact Sheet: The Growth in Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Commercial Aviation. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-the-growth-in-greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-commercial-aviation

Wei, T. (2020). SIA eyeing ‘flights to nowhere’ to give a lift to ailing business. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/sia-eyeing-flights-to-nowhere-to-give-a-lift-to-ailing-business

Weise, E. (2018). Flying is bad for the environment, here are some tips to make it less carbon-intensive. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/12/26/flying-bad-environment-heres-what-do/2350488002/