Who should bear the cost of the environmental damage that air travel causes?

Even as air travel in the domestic sector is being considered for its cost and convenience, is the benefit of such mode of transport coming at the environmental cost of the rest? Such and many more queries are challenging the role of aviation industry in the climate change.
Recently, a study from DEFRA into public attitudes [...]

Even as air travel in the domestic sector is being considered for its cost and convenience, is the benefit of such mode of transport coming at the environmental cost of the rest? Such and many more queries are challenging the role of aviation industry in the climate change.

Recently, a study from DEFRA into public attitudes towards the environment disclosed that more than three in four Brits think that flying less would have a ‘major or medium impact’ on the UK’s contribution to climate change.

The study, which is based on computer-assisted interviews with a nationally representative sample of 3,600 people, carried out by BMRB, assesses the attitude and behaviour of people towards the environment. This provided a representative picture of what people in England think, and how they behave, across a range of issues relevant to the environment, including transport

When asked whether ‘people who fly should bear the cost of the environmental damage that air travel causes’, 44 percent agreed or tended to agree compared with 31 percent who disagreed or tended to disagree.

Just under one in five admitted to feeling guilty about taking a short-haul flight. However, of the 3,600 interviewees, more than half had not taken a non-business return flight during the past year. Of those flights that were taken, 17 percent were domestic flights: 58 percent were to Europe with 25 percent elsewhere in the world. Nearly three in five of the people who had taken a domestic flight did so because ‘it was quicker’ than the alternatives. 28 percent opted for an internal flight because it was cheaper.

The survey looked at people’s attitudes to the environment generally. Around one in five – 18 percent - said: ‘it takes too much effort to do things that are environmentally friendly.’

The study has been carried out every five or six years since 1993. This year’s sample agreed with the 2001 study in identifying the government’s main priorities. The environment remains the fourth most important issue, after crime, health and education. However, six years ago 25 percent of the sample mentioned the environment; this year it was only 19 percent, as per the information available.

Considering the critical role of climate change especially in shaping a company in the travel sector, EyeforTravel is scheduled to conduct its first conference related to the issue. The conference is scheduled for 5-6 December in London.

The conference will focus on the three environmentally led challenges that will help you identify the business opportunities and take steps to provide and market a travel product that will sell in the future.

1. How will the existing travel industry be affected by constantly increasing climate change legislation and where will the opportunities for growth now lie?
2. How can you find fertile growing markets as customers’ perceptions change?
3. What will happen to the travel business if experts’ predictions of peak oil come through and that rocketing fuel prices become a reality and which travel products will work?

More information is available at:
http://www.eyefortravel.com/futures/index.asp