Road blocks hinder U.S. airlines’ efforts to decarbonize

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Forbes or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: U.S. airlines face obstacles in adopting greener aircraft like the Embraer E175-E2, which cuts emissions by 30% per flight, due to union-imposed weight restrictions that bar regional pilots from flying planes over 86,000 lbs
• These limits, set by pilot unions to protect mainline pilot jobs, render new fuel-efficient aircraft like the E175-E2 unmarketable in the U.S.

🔭 The context: Scope clauses in U.S. pilot contracts limit regional jets to 76 seats and 86,000 lbs. to prevent cost-cutting at the expense of mainline pilot jobs
• The E175-E2, though designed to be more eco-friendly, exceeds the weight threshold and cannot operate economically under these restrictions

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The inability to introduce these efficient jets delays carbon reduction efforts in the airline industry, hampering progress toward the sector’s net-zero targets by 2050

⏭️ What's next: Unless scope clause limits are adjusted, the U.S. market will remain closed to these cleaner jets, potentially impacting airline emissions goals and regional aviation modernization

💬 One quote: “It’s time to stop funding harm and start investing in health,” - Dr. Maria Neira, WHO Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Health

📈 One stat: The Embraer E175-E2 could save one million tons of CO2 over ten years if widely adopted to replace legacy aircraft

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