Global warming likely to lead to big changes in aviation industry: study

New York

RISING temperatures and more frequent heat waves could force up to 30 per cent of airplanes to delay takeoffs in the coming decades, causing cancellations, missed connections and other hassles for passengers, and dealing a financial blow to the industry, a new study finds.

As air warms, its density decreases. The wings of a plane moving down the runway on a hot day generate less lift. If it is hot enough, the plane will not be able to take off at all, according to the study, published in the journal Climatic Change.