I drew attention a few weeks ago to a guest article in liberal UK newspaper The Guardian by Airbus CEO Tom Enders, noting his reputation for reasoned debate. Here in Geneva he was uncharacteristically tetchy, using a fair chunk of his presentation to express exasperation with at least some of aviation's green critics.
He takes a swipe at the "very crude" ads placed in UK newspapers last year by some groups, and also picks out the Soil Association by name for opposing airfreighted food even though, he insists, it often burns less carbon and benefits the fair trade movement.
"What do you think would happen in fragile economies if you took away air travel's contribution to GDP," he demands. A question also touched on later in another form by managing director Airports Company South Africa Monhla Hlahla.
Enders continuing theme in Geneva, in his presentation and meeting the media later, is the need for technical experimentation. But he also says a global emissions trading scheme is needed meanwhile and urges support for one which "should be fair, should be global, and should be led by ICAO even if ICAO has not always been the most efficient body".
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