GHOST FLIGHTS: ARE EMPTY PLANES HAUNTING OUR SKIES?

AS THE INDUSTRY PLEDGES NET-ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2050, NEWS OF ‘GHOST FLIGHTS’ HITS THE HEADLINES. HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MARY CELESTES OF THE SKIES.

- SARAH BARRELL

What are ‘ghost flights’?

Empty or near-empty planes that fly scheduled routes so airlines can keep to contractual obligations. EU law says carriers must operate a percentage of flights (traditionally 80%) to retain valuable take-off and landing slots, notably at high-traffic airports: the so-called ‘use it or lose it’ rule.

How many are there?

This supposedly rare occurrence became more frequent during pandemic lockdowns. More than 10,000 ghost flights flew over European skies in the winter of 2021/22 according to a recent analysis from Greenpeace, while The Guardian reported that 15,000 have flown since March 2020, based on Department for Transport analysis of Civil Aviation Authority airport data.

Why does it matter?

In October 2021, the aviation industry pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The environmental damage from ghost flights, according to Greenpeace, is ‘equivalent to the yearly emissions of more than 1.4 million cars.’

When do they fly?