Close
Search
Menu Menu
[gtranslate]

A new policy could end low-cost flights in the EU

Credit: Unsplash
By
London, UK
0 comments
0 comments

France’s Transport Minister has said β€˜β‚¬10 flights aren’t possible anymore,’ because they do not properly reflect plane travel’s impact on the environment. He plans to propose a new minimum flight price policy to the EU.

Europeans may soon be waving goodbye to cheap city breaks if a new proposal aimed at ending low-cost flights within the EU is accepted.

Putting forward the idea is ClΓ©ment Beaune, France’s Transport Minister. His aim is to enforce a minimum flight price in order to β€˜fight against social and environmental dumping’ and ensure that the cost of plane tickets adequately reflects the price paid by the planet.

The aviation industry is responsible for 2.4 percent of total global CO2 emissions annually, which doesn’t sound like a lot in the grand scheme of things. However, this amount is equivalent to the annual emissions of entire countries, specifically Germany and Japan.

Increasing the cost of flights may seem like a feasible way to discourage people from taking unnecessary trips abroad – or better yet, to realise the environmental impact of their journey – but some aren’t so convinced.

According to the climate campaign group Possible, 15 percent of people living in the UK take 70 percent of all flights. In France, 2 percent of people take 50 percent of all flights.

Considering this, many believe frequent flyers should be targeted – not people taking one cheap flight a year for a summer holiday.

Trains for Europe campaigner Jon Worth said, β€˜We should be dealing with frequent flyers and this [new proposal] does not deal with them. It might reduce nice city weekends for some people but it’s not going to stop or reduce this regular flying elite.’

It’s also worth mentioning that implementing a baseline price for plane tickets could be part of an effort to make Europeans lean towards train travel.

However, experts are concerned about the readiness of train infrastructure across the continent, saying that current train capacity would not be capable of dealing with increased demand.

Jon Worth also pointed out a flaw in the French ministers’ logic. He says that it is extremely rare to find a plane ticket priced at €10 nowadays, given that added travel taxes and additional baggage fees tend to hike costs up to around €40-50.

Whether the proposal will be accepted by EU officials remains to be seen.

But it seems that more practical measures – such as getting rid of short-haul domestic flights and working to reduce train costs – could work better to slash overall emissions.

Senior Writer & Media Coordinator London, UK

I’m Jessica (She/Her). Originally from Bermuda, I moved to London to get a Master’s degree in Media & Communications and now write for Thred to spread the word about positive social change, specifically ocean health and marine conservation. You can also find me dipping my toes into other subjects like pop culture, health, wellness, style, and beauty. Β Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.

Popular

Keep up with thred by signing up to our planet-positive newsletter!

More from thred.

A look at the Haitian mass deportation crisis
Credit: Richard Pierrin AFP
People

A look at the Haitian mass deportation crisis

In recent months, the Dominican Republic has ramped up its deportation campaign targeting Haitian immigrants, with plans to expel 10,000 each week. Why? As Haiti remains engulfed in widespread gang violence and political instability, returning to their home country could lead to dire consequences, especially for vulnerable groups such as women and children. Despite international outcry, the Dominican government is pressing ahead with its policy, further intensifying an already critical humanitarian...

By Nairobi, Kenya
Investing in women’s health could save the UK economy Β£11bn each year
Credit: Thred
People

Investing in women’s health could save the UK economy Β£11bn each year

A new report conducted in the UK estimates that the national government loses more than Β£10 billion annually due to women missing work because of unresolved health issues. It’s an unfortunate truth that women’s health has been overlooked for centuries, leaving major gaps in our medical understanding about the different illnesses and diseases that affect us. In most parts of the world, this lax attitude towards women’s health continues today. Women’s...

By London, UK
Climate change will make this species more vulnerable to ship collisions
Credit: Unsplash
People

Climate change will make this species more vulnerable to ship collisions

A new study suggests that endangered whale sharks will soon abandon their normal habitats due to rapidly warming oceans. This change will place them on directly in line with major shipping routes. The climate crisis is having a profound impact on our planet and all living beings on it, including marine animals. As global ocean temperatures rise, biologists and marine scientists are noticing a series of changes taking place. Coral reefs...

By London, UK
Britain shuts its last power plant and opts for eco-friendly fuel
Credit: Thred
Planet

Britain shuts its last power plant and opts for eco-friendly fuel

The last coal power plant in Britain was closed last week, marking the end of over 140 years of coal-fired electricity and the beginning of more eco-friendly fuel use in the country. Ratcliffe-on-soar, in central England, was home to the last coal power station in the UK. After more than half a century of turning coal, it finished its final shift last Monday at midnight. The UK government has hailed...

By London, England
Accessibility