SPAIN'S consumer authorities are looking into Ryanair's claim that it is the 'lowest-emission airline in Europe', amid concerns that this may be influencing planet-conscious passengers in their choice of travel.
Earlier this month, according to British broadsheet The Guardian, the UK had pulled the plug on the advertising claim, dubbing it 'greenwashing'.
Now, the Spanish federation FACUA-Consumers in Action, along with the ministry for consumer affairs – led by United Left leader Alberto Garzón – is also looking into the issue.
Airlines being conscious of, and attempting to reduce, their carbon footprint, are to be encouraged, but the low-cost Irish carrier may be forced to change its wording if it turns out that it cannot substantiate its claims to be the 'greenest on the continent'.
On Ryanair's corporate website, a monthly CO2 report is provided, and the headline states that it was the first EU airline to do this.
It says that its carbon dioxide emissions per passenger per kilometre are the lowest in the EU airline industry, based upon its having 'one of the youngest fleets' at an 'average of six years', and the 'highest passenger load factor' at 96%.
“Our CO2 per passenger per kilometre has been cut from 82g to 67g (-18%) over the last decade,” the report reads.
“[This] is substantially lower than [Ryanair's] EU competitors.”
The company aims to cut its CO2 output to under 60g per passenger per kilometre within the next 10 years.
In the last nine months, according to Ryanair's monthly CO2 reports, emissions have actually risen slightly, from 66g per passenger per kilometre in May and June of 2019, to 67g from July to November 2019 inclusive, and now 69g in December 2019 and January 2020.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com