Dubai: Emirates and Etihad have just been named among the top airlines with the lowest aircraft noise and fuel pollution levels, making them among the quietest and cleanest carriers in the world.
The two UAE-based carriers emerged in the top ten list of 50 busiest airlnes compiled by London’s Heathrow Airport which seeks to encourage airlines to keep their planes as quiet as possible when they fly.
Emirates came eighth in the list, while Etihad secured the third spot, with both scoring high in a number of metrics that analysts used to evaluate the carriers.
The list is part of the Fly Quiet and Clean programme of the airport and ranks airlines based on several categories, including noise performance during night flights, as well as pollutant levels that aircraft engines emit.
British Airways came first in the list, emerging as the quietest and cleanest airline, while Israel’s El Al was rated the worst. The top ten list also includes Aer Lingus, Scandinavian Airlines, Finnair, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Iberia.
Heathrow’s Fly Quiet and Clean programme has been tracking the noise performance of airlines since 2013 and has rewarded those who invest in quieter planes and better operating procedures.
The complete league table of airlines:
1. British Airways - short haul
2. Aer Lingus
3. Etihad Airways
4. Scandinavian Airlines System
5. Finnair
6. American Airlines
7. United Airlines
8. Emirates
9. Delta Air Lines
10. Iberia
11. Qantas Airways
12. Air Malta
13. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
14. Air Canada
15. Aegean Airlines
16. TAP Portugal
17. Cathay Pacific Airways
18. LOT
19. British Airways - long haul
20. Virgin Atlantic Airways
21. Qatar Airways
22. Air France
23. Malaysia Airlines
34. Swiss International Airlines
25. SriLankan Airlines
26. South African Airlines
27.Alitalia
28. Gulf Air
29.Deutsche Lufthansa
30. Germanwings
31. Thai Airways
32. Saudi Arabian Airlines
33. Singapore Airlines
34. European Air Transport
35. Eurowings
36. Austrian Airlines
37. Aeroflot
38. Croatia Airlines
39. Icelandair - short haul
40.SN Brussels Airlines
41. Air China
42. Air India
43. Turkish Airlines - short haul
44.Turkish Airlines - long haul
45. Jet Airways
46.Oman Air
47. Pakistan International Airlines
48. Middle East Airlines
49.Kuwait Airways
50. El Al
