Passengers Want to Travel and Protect the Environment
Passengers are increasingly aware that air travel causes environmental damage, but they still want to fly without too many restrictions and are willing to pay for mitigating the climate change effects. These are the results of a survey into British attitudes to air travel.
British passengers want to be able to travel the world but are acutely aware of
the environmental effects of commercial flying, according to UK government sponsored research.
The results suggest that whilst people are keen to enjoy the benefits of having more services and destinations to choose from, they are aware of the environmental impacts of aviation and will support efforts to limit the effects.
The survey of public attitudes towards air travel was conducted for the UK Office
of National Statistics (ONS) and the results show that 70 per cent of adult travellers agree that air travel harms the environment, an increase from 62 per cent in a similar survey undertaken four years ago.
78 per cent of those who responded said they supported continued access to unrestricted air travel, provided they were sure that damage to the environment was limited. Around half of air travellers expressed a willingness to pay more for air travel to reflect the environmental impacts, including 35 per cent who said they would be willing to pay an additional 20 per cent on the price of a ticket.
"The survey underlines the value that the public attaches to flying, whilst recognizing the importance of providing this service in a sustainable way,” said UK Transport Secretary, Douglas Alexander. "This is why the Government maintains a balanced approach to future growth in the industry, setting people's wishes to travel against the need to face up to our responsibilities towards the environment.
"The international nature of aviation means it requires an international response. That is why the UK is pressing strongly for aviation's inclusion within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme as soon as possible. At the same time, we are working with the UK industry to explore how improvements in aircraft design, fuel technology and air traffic control can improve efficiency and reduce aviation's environmental impact."
The results suggest that whilst people are keen to enjoy the benefits of having more services and destinations to choose from, they are aware of the environmental impacts of aviation and will support efforts to limit the effects.
The survey asked respondents who agreed air travel harms the environment what types of environmental impact they thought resulted. This question was unprompted and so elicited respondents' immediate responses based on their existing knowledge. The most common response fell into the category of pollution/poor air quality (mentioned by 84 per cent). 40 per cent mentioned noise pollution and 35 per cent mentioned climate change or global warming.
Almost half of all adults in the UK have flown at least once in the previous year and 15 per cent had flown at least three times during that period. 85 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the facilities provided at UK airports and 81 per cent said they were satisfied with the level of security.
The ONS surveyed 1,298 adults face-to-face during May and June 2006. The response rate was 71 per cent. The survey provides valuable information on the frequency of flights taken each year, opinions of the service experienced by passengers at UK airports as well as their views on issues such as airport expansion, security and the impact of aviation on the environment.
The Air Transport White Paper, which outlines Government policy options, commits the Department for Transport to monitor public attitudes to air travel, particularly issues around the environment and future capacity. Published in 2003, it forecast future demand for air travel could more than double by 2030 from the 200m passengers who used UK airports in 2003.
Source: David Browne eTurboNews.com London