The increasing risk of extreme weather impacting air travel in Europe has led European air traffic navigation body Eurocontrol and airports’ association ACI Europe to issue advice to airports on adapting to climate-related disruption.
A joint briefing on ‘Adapting Aviation to a Changing Climate’ identifies a series of climate change impacts causing concern and calls on airports to complete risk assessments and develop adaptation plans.
The briefing notes: “The sector is grappling with disruptive weather patterns affecting aviation operations, airport infrastructure, passengers and personnel, which are set to increase with climate change.
“Harnessing technologies and strategies to foster adaptation will be essential for overcoming this resilience challenge.”
The Eurocontrol and ACI Europe briefing warns the number of days affected by heatwaves will increase, demand for cooling in terminals and aircraft will rise, stronger storms will cause damage to infrastructure, and there will be increased risk of flooding and increased traffic disruption.
It also warns of increased in thunderstorms over central and eastern Europe and increasing ‘heat stress’ in southern Europe affecting passengers and staff, and it advises airports in coastal areas should prepare for sea-level rise, “more frequent and intense storm surges”, and “temporary or permanent loss of airport capacity”.
The briefing suggests asks airports consider: “Will your systems be able to manage capacity during more frequent and extreme disruptive weather? [And] how much it will cost to implement the climate adaptation measures you need versus the cost of doing nothing?”
Eurocontrol head of sustainability Marylin Bastin said: “All industry stakeholders will be impacted by increasingly disruptive weather. It is key we collectively raise awareness of these impacts and the importance of investment in preparedness.”
ACI Europe director of sustainability Alexandre de Joybert said: “We are providing a toolkit to help airports assess, plan and prepare for the effects of climate change on their operations, which are increasing in frequency and intensity.
“Aside from the safety aspect, the impact of extreme weather events is jeopardising the resilience of our infrastructure, as well as having a knock-on impact on airport capacity.”
The briefing paper was produced with the help of the European Aviation Climate Change Adaptation Working Group.