"The average age of Israeli airlines' fleets is far older than the average in Europe and the US, and as such they are damaging to the environment," says a new report by the Israel Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA).
The report reveals that the average age of aircraft in Israel is 15 years. The average age of passenger aircraft is 13 years and the average age of cargo aircraft 28 years. The average age of the fleets of airlines operating flights to Israel is just 11 years, with European airlines operating newer aircraft than their US counterparts.
The report stresses that older aircraft are noisier and consume more fuel. Higher fuel consumption not only causes airlines to lose money, but also damages the environment through the emission of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. In addition, because they make more noise, older aircraft are only allowed to land and take off at certain times.
El Al Israel Airlines (TASE: ELAL) currently has a fleet of 36 Boeing aircraft with an average age of 14 years. This is likely to fall once the new aircraft the airline has purchased go into service, but until then, the company's current air fleet will continue to pollute.
Arkia Airlines Ltd. has eight aircraft, two of them company-owned, with an average age of 13 years. Israir Airlines and Tourism Ltd. has a fleet of seven aircraft with an average age of no less than 18 years. The average aircraft age at cargo airliner Cargo Airlines Ltd. is 28 years.
Israeli airlines have undertaken to spend over $2 billion on new aircraft in the coming years. Of this sum, El Al will spend $1.5 billion, Israir, $300 million, and Arkia, $400 million.
A spokesperson for El Al said in response, "According to figures released by the International Air Travel Association (IATA), the average age of aircraft in Europe and the US is 15 years. Moreover, IATA officials visited Israel last October and ruled that El Al's aircraft are economical on fuel consumption, and that the airline has one of the most outstanding records on environmental issues of all companies worldwide."
Israir said it placed special emphasis on environmental issues with a view to reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. It added that by 2010 it will have three new aircraft in service, which will cut gas emissions even further.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 24, 2008
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