A ground-breaking study is under way at Exeter Airport.

This venture unites a leading UK regional airport operator with a global travel company and a university with an academic focus on aviation and the environment.

The project, which will explore methods of decarbonising ground operations and lessening the environmental impact of aircraft turnarounds, will take place at the RCA-owned airport in East Devon.

Using data from TUI and airport vehicle usage data among other information sources, experts from Cranfield University's Centre for Air Transport Management will create an 'emissions inventory' of ground operations.

The study will delve into the different aspects of the turnaround in-flight operations, aiming to identify areas with potential for immediate emissions savings, and pinpoint larger future changes which may hinge on new technology advances.

In 2022, there was an estimated 85 million global air traffic movements, meaning the study could have important ramifications for the global aviation industry.

Professor Anna Smallwood, Head of the Centre for Air Transport Management, Cranfield University, said: “Addressing the future challenges faced by the aviation industry will require high degrees of collaboration to develop integrated solutions.

"This is an excellent example of industry and academia working together to understand the real issues and find opportunities to move forward in a viable and sustainable way.”

Dr Thomas Budd, Senior Lecturer and DARTeC Fellow in Airport Planning and Management at Cranfield University said: “This is an exciting opportunity for us examine a key part of the aviation ecosystem and find ways to reduce turnaround emissions.

"Understanding more about the emissions created will give us a clear view on what mitigating measures will make the most significant impact – and we can then use this as a stepping stone to further decarbonisation of airport operations.”

Andrew Bell, Chief Executive of RCA, said that the study is the latest in ongoing collaboration with the university to 'drive innovation across our industry', calling it "a vital part of RCA’s commitment to make our own airport operations net zero by 2040."

Dawn Wilson, from TUI Airline, welcomed the project as a stride forward in their net zero initiatives.

She said: "TUI Airline is already among the most carbon-efficient in the world having continuously invested in new aircraft, and our goal is to drive further emissions out of the system through our work with RCA and Cranfield University at Exeter Airport.”

The next months will see Exeter Airport function as a 'living laboratory' for the experts from Cranfield.