Interesting story

A major US airline has been attacked by environmental campaigners for flying empty planes across the Atlantic to be disinfected.

Delta Air Lines has admitted running "ghost" flights from the US to Heathrow to meet Australian quarantine regulations. Authorities in Australia require inbound aeroplanes to be sprayed with insecticide to ward off malaria and dengue fever. Delta is not allowed to carry out the treatment in the US and the nearest airport with facilities sanctioned by the Australian quarantine and inspection service (AQIS) is Heathrow, requiring the carrier to make a number of trips to the airport over the past two months.

A Delta spokeswoman said: "Materials used for this process are approved and available for use in the United States; however, according to US regulations, these treatments must be carried out at designated AQIS locations outside the United States."

The Campaign for Better Transport, an environmental group, said the round-trip taken by Delta's Boeing 777 jets operating the Los Angeles to Sydney route summed up the "wanton" attitude of airlines towards global warming.

"It symbolises their cavalier approach to the environment," said Richard George, a campaigner at CBT.

Delta is planning to stop its disinfection trips to Heathrow at the end of the month, but is expected to switch to a Chinese airport.

Aviation is under pressure as a prominent producer of greenhouse gases and the industry has been the subject of a number of "ghost flight" stories. BMI, Heathrow's second largest carrier, admitted flying empty planes from Heathrow to Cardiff to retain its lucrative takeoff and landing slots under "use it or lose it" guidelines. Flybe, the Exeter-based regional airline, admitted advertising for actors last year to boost passenger numbers and ensure it met an airport quota.