Boeing, Airbus join forces on green initiative

GENEVA – Boeing and Airbus have signed an agreement to work together to ensure global interoperability in Air Traffic Management. This is part of an effort to help reduce the impact of aviation on the environment. The companies will seek the acceleration of improvements to the world's air transportation management system in order to increase efficiency and eliminate traffic congestion.

The initiative to work together in helping the aviation sector and governments choose the most direct path to a modernized air traffic management system is part of a three-pronged approach to help improve the environmental performance of aviation. The other two are competition – critical for environmental and technological advances that result in new aircraft programmes like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 – and support for industry alignment on environmental positions.

More efficient routing, better arrival management, and speed control will reduce inefficient delays and time in the air, saving fuel and reducing emissions. Such Air Traffic Management improvements represent the greatest short-term opportunities to reduce CO2 emissions.