Can airport really go carbon neutral amid plans to expand flights?

Here is a story making headlines in the economy: Can airport really go carbon neutral amid plans to expand flights? Image caption, All the cars and buses at the airport run on green electricity, but the planes still use fossil fuelsByDave Harvey, West of England business and environment correspondent and Matty Edwards, BristolPublished21 July 2026Giant heat pumps, electric vehicles, and new fuel efficient planes are being ordered by an airport introducing major changes to cut its carbon emissions. But climate campaigners say the measures "barely touch the surface" of the problem.

They say 99% of the carbon emitted by the airport is from planes, and have urged council leaders to reject plans to allow the airport to expand its flights. Mary Collett, from Bristol Airport Action Network, said: "With the weather like this at the moment, the unbearable heat, the fact that we can't grow food as easily, we just can't carry on expanding airports, we all just need to fly a bit less. "But like many regional airports, Bristol is keen to expand, and has applied to grow from 12 million passengers a year to 15 million, which airport bosses insist can be done "sustainably".

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Dave Lees, the airport's chief exec, said new planes are greener than ever, and that Bristol will be "the first airport to be net zero by 2030" - but crucially this does not account for emissions from flights. Image caption, Lees says the airport is on "a journey to net zero"More from BristolDad facing difficult summer as food donations plunge Published1 day agoFormer Victorian baths illuminated for first event Published1 day agoDarren Jones sacked from cabinet Published1 day agoPeople's desire to travel seems limitless, with airlines able to sell more flights to more destinations. The UK Government has backed expansion of regional airports to "drive economic growth".

But as the impact of a changing climate is felt in repeated heatwaves, droughts and wildfires this summer, how can we fly around the world without costing the earth? Right now, councillors in North Somerset, Bristol Airport's local authority, are reading an ambitious expansion plan. Airport chiefs wants to add another 15,000 flights a year, raising their cap to 100,000.

This means a bigger terminal building, and controversial new landing lights on ancient common land next to the airport. Many of the new flights are on EasyJet planes, and the airline has invested in new aircraft which it says cuts fuel use, and so carbon emissions. The Airbus NEO jets, with wings designed nearby in Filton and built in the UK, have cut fuel consumption by 20%.

Kevin Doyle, EasyJet's UK manager, said: "Our roadmap is by 2050 to get to net zero, and this aircraft very much helps us on that path. "Within Bristol we've actually got 13 of the 20 aircraft that are here from that next generation," he said.

Financial markets are tracking the development closely as investors assess the likely impact.