British Airways aircraft are to be used to gather data about the hidden impact of air travel on climate change in research that could result in much higher environmental surcharges on tickets than expected.

The airline is supporting research by the University of Cambridge into the warming effects of condensation trails, nitrogen dioxide and other aircraft emissions.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has estimated that the damage done to the climate by these emissions is between twice and four times greater than the impact of carbon dioxide alone.

It is relatively simple to calculate carbon dioxide emissions because they are related directly to fuel consumption. There is also broad scientific consensus about the contribution that carbon dioxide makes to climate change.

Much less is known about the effect of other emissions, although a study by a German aviation research institute found that the white trails often seen criss-crossing the sky could cause more climate damage than carbon dioxide. The trails broaden after about 30 minutes to form banks of cloud that prevent heat from escaping upwards, causing a greenhouse effect.

Nitrogen dioxide forms ozone, a greenhouse gas, when emitted at altitude.

BA is supporting the research because it is keen to present itself as the responsible face of the airline industry and hopes to overcome environmental objections to the construction of a new runway at Heathrow.

A BA spokesman said: “While research has given us a solid understanding of the effect carbon dioxide generated by flying has on the environment, the climate impact of our nitrogen dioxide emissions and other effects is less well understood. Recognising that these aircraft non-CO2 effects may be important, we are committed to improving scientific understanding in this area by supporting and engaging in research initiatives. We are looking at whether we can use our aircraft to assist in the collection of atmospheric data.”

BA is also spending £50,000 on workshops organised by Cambridge University to identify gaps in knowledge and develop a plan ensuring that “scientific understanding of aircraft non-CO2 effects is robust by 2012”.

Last month ministers from the European Union’s 27 member states agreed to include all flights arriving at or departing from EU airports in the European emissions trading scheme from 2012. But the scheme, in which companies buy and sell permits to pollute, only covers carbon dioxide emissions and is likely to add less than £6 to the average fare for flights within Europe and less than £25 to longhaul fares.

Were airlines required to pay for their other climate change emissions, the cost to the passenger could quadruple.

Jeff Gazzard, of the Greenskies Alliance, a coalition of environmental groups opposed to the expansion of air travel, said that the Cambridge research project should not be used as an excuse to delay taking action.

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