More expansion = more emissions

Regional airports might not get too much media attention, but rest assured - they're dead keen on expansion. And being out of the public eye means they often get away with the most ridiculous claims - as this latest humdinger should demonstrate.

This gibberish started with Southampton Airport and now Bristol International Airport is following suit. They're claiming that expanding regional airports means a gross reduction in CO2, because instead of driving to the nearest long-haul shopping mall, people will fly from whichever airport is closest too them.

Sounds implausible, right - more holes than a sieve which has been used for target practice by a crack team of snipers. Firstly, it assumes that a mile of car travel emits the same amount as a mile of jet travel - sadly not the case. Secondly, it pretends that no new flights will be taken as a result of the expansion - also patently unlikely, to say the least.

All that will happen from expanding regional airports is more planes, from more airports, pumping more and more CO2 into the atmosphere. Hardly sustainable development...