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.