Ok, I call BULLSH*T on the ad

From these articles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_efficiency_in_transportation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_fuel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerosene

jet fuel consumption: 4.8L / 100km / passenger = 0.048 L / km / passenger

kerosene combustion reaction: C12H28 + 37/2 O2 -> 12C02 + 13H20

Kerosene (Jet fuel) is 0.8g/cm3 = 800g / L

Kerosene = (12*12 +1*28) = 172 g / mole

greenhouse gas produced = 12( 12 + 16 * 2 ) = 528 g / mole

800 g / L divided by 172 g/mole = 4.65 moles / L

greenhouse gas per liter of kerosene = 4.65 moles / L * 528 g / mole = 2455 g / L

greenhouse gas per km / passenger = 2455 g / L * 0.048 L / km / passenger = 117 g / km / passenger

Now if you divide 400 kg CO2 per flight / 117 g / km / passenger it means the average flight length is 3418 km! Given that Europe is total about 3500 km east to west and 3000 km north to south, and I'd bet that 90% of the air traffic involves a region less than 2000km e-w and 1500km n-s.

Please point out any miscalculations.

>I'm going to have to look up some chemistry tonight but this doesn't sound right at all:
>
>"An average European flight produces 400 kg of greenhouse gases per passenger"
>
>And exactly what is the average European flight? Are they talking just intra-European flights, or all flights that have a European origin or destination? update - reading further looks like just intra-European flights based on the "short-haul" sentence.
>
>>http://www.greenmuze.com/climate/travel/1850-shocking-polar-bear-ad.html