Greener Air Travel (simple tips and swaps)
We all know that flying is one of the main causes of climate emissions. But there’s no point to just say ‘don’t fly’, because many people do, and they are not going to stop any time soon.
But there are a few simple swaps that collectively, can make a huge difference, until someone invents solar-powered planes!
Flying is stressful for animals, and vets don’t tranquilise them due to safety. If you have to fly with animals (say you are emigrating), PetAirUK is run by vets, and has comprehensive and reassuring information.
Fly Less. If you can go by bus, boat or train (we don’t need HS2 in England, it’s not much quicker and kills wildlife) then do. From Amsterdam train station, you can reach nearly all of Europe within a few hours.
Use Split My Fare to drastically reduce your fares, by purchasing separate tickets (the site does all the work for you, sometimes reducing ticket prices substantially).
Fly Direct (if you can). Obviously not for New Zealand, but if it’s a short flight, taking direct flights helps to reduce fuel (used mostly for take-off and landing).
Fly Economy on Short Flights. Again many people prefer Business or First Class for leg room and better sleep on long flights. But for short-haul, Business Class means ‘less bums on seats’, so companies fly more planes, for the sake of a hot meal and ‘hot towel, sir?’
Take Public Transport to the Airport. Take the bus or train, rather than give huge profits to multi-storey car parks. If you have to drive, use Just Park app (which finds you empty driveways or garages, will cost you less and gives nice passive income to local people).
Take Your Own ‘Everything’. Make your own sandwiches, take a reusable water bottle, pack some hankies (to avoid accepting a hot towel). Also bring a book, to avoid buying over-priced paperbacks in the airport lounge, if there’s a delay.
Order a Vegan Meal. Not only greener but kinder to animals (and meals are outsourced to people who can cook!) Order 24 hours in advance using code VGML – or FPML for a virtuous fruit platter).
Boycott Airlines that Fly Kidnapped Wildlife. At time of writing, just a few airlines fly kidnapped wild animals to vivisection labs. Ask before booking, then boycott if they can’t give guarantees.
On a positive note, Easy Jet refuses to promote tours that include animal ‘entertainment’. And Qatar Airways offer free flights to fly captive animals back to their wild homes, to protected sanctuaries.
Donate Air Miles (and Luggage Allowance) Good Flights lets you donate unused air miles, used to transport abused or homeless pets (often after natural disasters) to shelters or loving homes.
If you’re a regular traveller to Thailand, you can use luggage allowance to help Soi Dog Foundation transport street dogs (that rarely find homes locally) to loving homes, to save costs.
Airport Terminals and Extra Runways
Heathrow (made of three villages) and Gatwick are very busy airports, so there is controversy due to plans for extra terminals.
Heathrow is the second most polluting airport in the world (after Dubai International) and the most polluting place in England.
If you live near Heathrow, their website shows how to apply for financial help to insulate (or even move) home, and you can also report roof damage, due to fallen ice or vortex (swirling air).
Most Heathrow flights are long-haul, though another popular destination is Dublin, easy to get to by ferry from Holyhead (around 4 hours) or Liverpool (around 8 hours). Enjoy the views!
Heathrow airport say they have a ‘plan for sustainable growth which sets out how we will ‘help to tackle global challenges such as climate change’. But it doesn’t seem to involve them closing it down. Neil Kingsnorth
Please No More Terminals at England’s Airports
While it’s known that air travel is one of the main causes of climate emissions, governments continually try to build new terminals. HS2 is a terrible idea anyway that is killing wildlife and won’t reduce emissions. But their argument that it’s to ‘stop climate change’ is rubbish, when they are considering extra terminals at:
- Heathrow
- Gatwick
- Luton
- Stanstead
- Manchester
A new terminal extension also recently opened at Leeds Bradford.
No-one is saying to never take a plane trip again. But ‘fly less or not at all’ is one of the nine proven ways to reduce climate emissions.
What is it we’re actually trying to sustain? Shell Oil can maybe help. Their website explains ‘Sustainability is integrated across our business in three ways’. How so, you ask? ‘By running a safe efficient, responsible and profitable business, by helping to shape a more sustainable energy future and by sharing benefits where we operate and making a positive contribution to society’.
No, it turns out they can’t help.
Heathrow airport are not better. They say they have a ‘plan for sustainable growth’ which sets out how to tackle global challenges such as climate change’. But it doesn’t seem to involve them closing down. Neil Kingsnorth
Improve Luton Airport (don’t build another terminal)
There is also concern over plans to build a second terminal at Luton Airport, which again will cause more noise and pollution, and impact wild orchids and ancient hedgerows.
These would be concreted to build more hangars and car parks. The town of Luton has a tradition of hat-making. Considering the airport does not have good reviews, it may be best to focus again on making hats!
Here are just a few of the 82% of 1-star reviews on TrustPilot (not staff fault, more the planning and greed aspects):
Appalling experience, I was charged a ridiculous amount at the car park for literally 2 minutes, with no signage. Before Luton even thinks about a new runway, they should focus on running the current airport properly. Focus less on being a shopping centre.
Worst airport ever. We were screamed at because my aunt who has disabilities could not stand in the line.
£7 for up to 10 minutes of pick up/ drop off is a rip-off, should be illegal. My pick-up lasted 3 minutes, yet they know people with elder relatives or with special needs are taken advantage of.
