Is bigger aircraft better for the environment?

Question

Some say bigger aircrafts are better, more fuel efficient. Doesn't make sense to me cause bigger aircraft mean bigger fuel tank, more fuel, more CO2 emission? Isn't it?

Answer 1

Both big and small airplanes can be fuel guzzlers. The newer versions of airliners are more efficient.

Answer 2

Think of it this way, how much fuel is used per passenger. As long as the plane is full, a larger aircraft is better.

Answer 3

Correct....

but a bigger aircraft carry more passengers.  Assuming both the aircraft are full (of passengers), 747 consume far less fuel than smaller biz-jets on per passenger basis.

Most commercial carriers almost always fly full.

Answer 4

It's the ratio between passengers and total carbon emmissions that matter. A large plane can carry 500 people and give off 50k of carbon and be more efficent than 10 planes carrying 50 people giving off 10k of carbon.

Usually larger crafts are slightly less eff. than smaller ones. It would be something to reaserch, though.

Answer 5

That is true, but the bigger the plane the less fuel used per passenger.  Its like saying a bus is inefficient because it only get 10 MPG but it is carrying 40 passengers.  If you gave those 40 passengers each their own car they would be using a lot more fuel to go the same distance as the bus.

Answer 6

newer engines are more fuel efficient the best however is Gol airlines that uses bio diesel instead of fossil fuels