British billionaire Richard Branson proposed changes this morning to aircraft movements at busy airports as part of a plan he said would cut the world's aviation emissions by up to 25 per cent.
Mr Branson, who last week committed to spending all the profits from his airline and rail businesses to combat global warming, is lobbying airlines and airports to consider his cross-industry proposal to slash emissions.
The Virgin Group chairman proposed "starting grids" be set up at major airports which would allow a plane to be towed from its stand by a small tug closer to the runway before takeoff, reducing the time engines are running.
This would reduce fuel consumption and on-the-ground carbon emissions for Virgin Atlantic aircraft by more than 50 per cent ahead of take-off at London's Heathrow Airport and almost 90 per cent at New York's John F Kennedy airport, Mr Branson said in a statement.
Mr Branson also proposed changes to the way air traffic is controlled and a more efficient way for planes to descend and save fuel.
He also said airlines can reduce the weight of planes by using lighter materials and even removing empty champagne and beer bottles before take-off.
"Airlines, airports, air traffic controllers and governments should seize these initiatives and ensure they're all implemented within two years," Mr Branson, who is in New York to launch the proposal, said.
"If they do so, up to 25 per cent of the world's aviation emissions can be cut."
The proposal is the next stage in Mr Branson's public pledge to help tackle global warming.
Mr Branson has created Virgin Fuels, which will invest $400 million over three years in renewable energy initiatives as part of his pledge.
International aviation is not covered by the Kyoto Protocol on climate change but its emissions are projected to grow, causing concern among environmentalists, especially as the low-cost airline sector booms in Europe.