Environmental analysis news: Flight grounding cuts carbon emissions

The grounding of flights due to volcanic ash has cut carbon emissions by approximately 1.3 million tonnes, it has been claimed.

Figures released by the Aviation Environment Federation show that this equates to more than the average annual output of 50 developing countries, the Times reports.

Jeff Gazzard, a spokesman for the organisation, commented: "While volcanic eruptions are not an everyday occurrence, surely the take-away message from the past few days is that the world has not stopped revolving and people can find alternatives to air travel."

He added that the situation may prompt travellers to consider in future whether their flight is really necessary and if there is an alternative.

Around 560,000 tonnes of CO2 is emitted in European airspace on an average day, with 28,000 planes taking to the skies.

The National Air Traffic Control Service has announced that restrictions will not be lifted until tomorrow at the earliest.

Written by Joseph Hutton