The damage cost of carbon dioxide emissions produced by passengers on airport surface access: the case of Manchester Airport

Abstract

The present paper estimates the carbon footprints of passengers on airport surface access and identifies the users who produce larger emissions using Manchester Airport as a case study. The quantified results demonstrate the higher CO2 emissions and the greater cost of damage caused by carbon of private modes such as ‘drop off and pick up’ and ‘minicab’ users. A large opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions is identified by thus decreasing ‘drop off and pick up’ users. The total cost of the damage caused by CO2 produced by passengers’ surface access is estimated to be approximately £10.9million at 2009 prices. An economic instrument to charge higher cost users could be implemented, however, the trade-off between private benefit and total costs should be evaluated in order to maintain competitive advantage.