Emissions of HC, CO, NOx, CO2, and SO2 from civil aviation in China in 2010

Civil aviation in China has developed rapidly in recent years, and the effects of civil aviation emissions on the atmospheric environment should not be neglected. The establishment of emission inventories of atmospheric pollutants from civil aviation contributes to related policy formation and pollution control. According to the 2010’s China flight schedules, aircraft/engine combination information and revised emission indices from the International Civil Aviation Organization emission data bank based on meteorological data, the fuel consumption and HC, CO, NOx, CO2, SO2 emissions from domestic flights of civil aviation in China (excluding Taiwan Province) in 2010 are estimated in this paper. The results show that fuel consumption in 2010 on domestic flights in China is 12.12 million tons (metric tons), HC, CO, NOx, CO2 and SO2 emissions are 4600 tons, 39,700 tons, 154,100 tons, 38.21 million tons and 9700 tons, respectively. The fuel consumption and pollutant emissions of China Southern Airline are responsible for the largest national proportion of each, accounting for 27% and 25–28%, respectively.

► We estimated the fuel consumption on China civil aviation domestic flights in 2010.
► We established emission inventories of HC, CO, NOx, CO2 and SO2.
► The B737-800s account for the largest fuel consumption and pollutant emissions.
► China Southern Airline owns the largest fuel consumption and pollutant emissions.
► High-combustion-efficiency engines lead to less pollutant emissions.