By Bev Fearis, published 2/12/20

Manchester Airport is offering five years of no landing fees to the first airline to operate a zero-emission commercial flight from the airport.

The airport laid down the challenge as it published a CSR Report and pledged to become a net-zero carbon business by 2038, 12 years ahead of the industry-wide target of 2050.

Five years with no landing fees is worth £1.3million based on today’s prices.

Airlines taking part in the competition are free to choose which low-emission solutions they use, including electric and hydrogen technology.

Manchester Airport has also committed to a series of community targets, including investing £100,000 a year for local projects,

MAG Managing Director Karen Smart said: “At Manchester Airport we have always been extremely proud of the region we serve, and we owe a great deal to the local communities around the airport. This is why we place such an emphasis on supporting those communities as well as remaining ambitious in our approach to sustainability.

“There will always be more we can do, which is why we are setting our sights on seeing zero-carbon aircraft on our runway in the next 10-15 years, along with a commitment to be a net zero-carbon business by 2038.

“While Coronavirus will have an impact on our business for some time to come, we cannot take our eye off the need for sustainable growth in the long term, and these plans will set us on the right course to achieve this.”