In an opinion piece in this morning’s South China Morning Post, Cathay Pacific Airways chief executive Tony Tyler made the point that the carbon emissions of the aviation industry must be tackled at a global level: "In recent years, aviation has shown itself to be willing to face up to its environmental impact and has made strikingly clear its desire to reduce that impact and work further to develop the sustainability of the industry".

Speaking about the global negotiations underway at the moment and in Copenhagen at the end of the year, he says: "Aviation is clearly caught up in a complex, high-stakes geopolitical game and it remains to be seen what emerges from Copenhagen".

"For all our sakes, it is vital that we capitalise on the opportunity that Copenhagen presents. The international airline industry is calling on politicians and heads of state not to squander this chance to integrate international aviation into a truly global, well-designed solution to the climate change challenge."