Australia's carbon emissions from air travel could be cut in half due to the coronavirus pandemic — a reduction of 13.2 megatonnes of CO2 in the air this year — according to a study released today.

Key points: The drastic decline of aviation emissions may soon be an underestimation

The drastic decline of aviation emissions may soon be an underestimation Australia's per capita emissions from air travel are some of the highest in the world

Australia's per capita emissions from air travel are some of the highest in the world If global aviation emissions were a country, it'd be the sixth largest greenhouse gas emitter

Under an extreme scenario — most Virgin and Qantas flights being grounded for nine months — the report by The Australia Institute said aviation emissions would be slashed by 56 per cent.

The report said the reduction in emissions, based on International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, would likely become an underestimation as the pandemic continued.

The Australia Institute is an independent think tank funded largely by donations that conducts public policy research on a range of issues including the environment.

"The economic impact of COVID-19 on the aviation industry has been no doubt devastating," said Climate and Energy Program Director Richie Merzian.

"Even the three impact scenarios presented in the last month by the International Air Transport Association now appear to be optimistic."

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The report found cuts to air traffic had already seen a 10 per cent reduction in global emissions in March 2020 compared to the same time last year.

"Australia Institute analysis shows global emissions from aviation in February and the first half of March 2020 are already lower than this time last year," Mr Merzian said.

"If the cuts to flights announced by Qantas and Virgin continue into spring, it would more than halve projected commercial aviation emissions in Australia."

Major airline disruption from coronavirus Qantas ceased all international flights from the end of March until at least May 31

Qantas ceased all international flights from the end of March until at least May 31 Qantas decreased domestic flight activity by around 60 percent

Qantas decreased domestic flight activity by around 60 percent Virgin ceased all international flights from 27 March until 14 June

Virgin ceased all international flights from 27 March until 14 June Virgin cut domestic capacity by 90 per cent

Australia's per capita emissions from air travel were some of the highest in the world — nearly double the United States and Europe combined, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation.

"If global aviation were its own country, it would be the sixth-largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the world," Mr Merzian said.

Elsewhere, carbon emissions have toppled as coronavirus lockdowns disrupted multiple sectors.

China's carbon emissions fell by about 25 per cent, or about 200 million tonnes of CO2, during February, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

Mr Merzian said aviation downturn from coronavirus offered the opportunity for governments and airlines to honour the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the United Nations agreement for carbon-neutral aviation.

He cited the report's findings that worldwide travel was set to decrease by 40 per cent in 2020, and by 37 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region, as reason to "use 2020 as the baseline year".

"Rather than just weathering the current outbreak with interim solutions, this could be the impetus we need to drive long-term change," Mr Merzian said.