Is Sustainable Air Travel Possible?

22 January 2024 | Blog #2

 

How can passengers themselves contribute to traveling as sustainably as possible by plane? Despite recurring news, airplanes, especially on longer routes, are by no means environmental villains. A kerosene consumption of 3 liters per passenger per 100 km makes this clear. The concrete measures for this include simple things, especially to consider before the flight. During the flight or travel, there is little one can do to contribute. 

The rule of thumb is to travel with as little luggage as possible, as the total weight of the aircraft directly affects fuel consumption. The modular pricing principle of most airlines clearly shows that sometimes it is even more expensive to book luggage than it is to pay for your own 'transport.' It is worth questioning how much clothing and accessories one really needs at the destination. This is best done by reflecting on past trips and realizing that one often travels with too much or unnecessary luggage. It is worth remembering that there are mostly opportunities to use a laundry service on-site. 

Additionally, one should opt for environmentally friendly options such as buying sustainable luggage brands that use recycled materials. During the journey, it is important to avoid unnecessary waste and opt for recyclable materials. 

Using a smartphone, one can download the boarding pass, limiting additional paper consumption, as well as the ink used daily for printing millions of boarding passes. Regarding travel literature: please do not bring books and magazines in paper form on the journey. In the age of e-books and online magazines, significant weight can be saved on flights, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

As for getting to the departure airport, it is advisable to always use public transportation, preferably by train if a direct connection is available. The same applies, of course, to the destination airport and the entire departure. 

Research shows that airplanes consume the most fuel and produce the most harmful emissions during takeoff. For example, on a short-haul flight, takeoff can consume up to 25% of the total fuel supply of an aircraft on one flight. By choosing direct flights instead of connecting flights (if possible), you help significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Almost always, a layover results in aggregated longer flight distances. 

Another way to fly more environmentally friendly is to reduce flight emissions through compensation. However, these compensation deals are criticized from various perspectives and should not be instrumentalized as 'greenwashing' for sustainable aviation. There is a risk of the so-called 'rebound effect,' where individuals who compensate for their emissions may feel less incentive to reduce their own energy consumption. This could lead to people continuing environmentally harmful behaviors, believing that their emissions can be offset by compensation. Furthermore, there is uncertainty about how effective compensation projects actually are. Some projects may not achieve the expected CO2 savings, and there are discussions about the accuracy of measurements and calculations. 

In summary, it is clear that with simple actions, it is indeed possible to travel sustainably by plane to some extent. The most important aspect of this is planning.

 Kindly let me know your opinion about this topic.