The Benefits of Avoiding Air Travel

With the growing worries around rising fuel prices, concern for carbon footprints and airport chaos, you might be looking for alternative methods of travel to the UK. For many travellers, the journey has become just as important as the destination. Indeed, questions about the environmental impact of aviation and plane carbon footprints are influencing how people plan their holidays.

Choosing to travel without flying not only reduces stress and costs but also significantly cuts down on the carbon footprint of flights. While there are developments in sustainable aviation and efforts like the UK’s Jet Zero Strategy, the most immediate and effective way to reduce emissions is to choose alternatives to flying, from trains and ferries to coaches and local, eco-friendly travel options.

Travel Without Flying: Key Takeaways

• Environmental impact: Air travel contributes significantly to global warming, with aviation responsible for around 4% of global warming.
• Greener alternatives: Coaches, trains, and ferries are eco-friendly ways to travel without flying and can reduce your carbon footprint dramatically.
• Economic advantage: Avoiding flights can save money on fuel surcharges and airport fees.
• Travel experience: Road and rail journeys allow you to explore hidden gems and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
• Sustainable choices: Small actions like packing light and supporting local businesses can further reduce your plane carbon footprint.

How Bad Is Flying For The Environment?

Everything we do, from the food we eat, the products we buy, to the way we travel, releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and so has an impact on the planet’s climate. But some activities have a far greater impact than others.

Around 2.4% of global CO2 emissions come from aviation. Together with other gases and the water vapour trails produced by aircraft, the industry is responsible for around 5% of global warming. With air passenger numbers expected to reach 8.2 billion by 2037, air transport is set to become the world’s largest single contributor to damaging the environment.

Electrofuels such as power-to-liquid are a potential source of zero or lower-carbon alternative fuels. They require enormous amounts of renewable energy, and their environmental effectiveness depends on the source of the CO2 required to produce the fuels. However, they do provide the potential to significantly reduce emissions from the sector.

Of course, the least-emitting flight is one that doesn’t happen at all.

What are the Benefits of Avoiding Air Travel?

1. Lower Prices of Air Travel Alternatives
Alongside the environmental cost of air travel, the increasing price of flights has been highlighted in recent years due to fuel surcharges. Coaches, ferries and trains are far less polluting and not as affected by rising fuel costs.

2. Green Credentials: Reducing Your Aeroplane Carbon Footprint
Air travel comprises one of the largest portions of tourism’s carbon footprint. Did you know that taking just one flight can produce more emissions than some people produce in an entire year? The CO2 emissions per flight per person are far higher than rail or road travel, making the benefits of avoiding air travel clear.

3. Alternative for Reluctant Fliers
There are more reasons to travel without flying than just reducing your carbon footprint. If you don’t like flying, then there are plenty of alternative methods of getting from A to B. What’s more, you can enjoy a slower pace and enjoy the journey to your destination as much as your holiday itself.

4. Knowledgeable Drivers Add to the Experience
If you’re getting from destination to destination by coach, you may find the driver’s local savvy and in-depth knowledge can bring life to your destination more than driving around in a hire car. You could spend hours scouring the internet for must-visit destinations and not come close to the hidden gems a local can share with you.

5. Avoid Airport Queues and Stress
Skip the flight and avoid the dreaded queues that seem to be all over the news. Experience the beauty of cross-country train travel – no checking in suitcases, just you with a glass of wine chuffing through the countryside you’d never see at 31,000ft in the air.

Green Aeroplanes: Are They an Option?

A number of technologies designed to reduce the environmental impact of aviation have been researched, tested and implemented. However, compared with greener cars, where the technologies are proven and the carbon saving is huge, the potential for eco-friendly planes looks limited.

There is hope for some further gains in aviation sustainability over the coming decades, and larger planes with more seats will allow slightly lower emissions per passenger. Governments and airlines are exploring green aeroplanes through the UK’s Jet Zero Strategy, but for now, trains and ferries remain eco-friendly ways to travel without flying.

Eco-Friendly Ways to Travel Without Flying

If you’re travelling to the UK, chances are you’ll either cross the North Sea, the Irish Sea or the English Channel. The good news is that there are many ways you can do this and avoid taking a flight. Road, train and rail holidays in the UK are the perfect opportunity to explore our beautiful country whilst reducing your carbon emissions.

Train

There are strong rail links between the UK and the rest of Europe. Travelling by rail can be the most efficient and eco-friendly plane alternative, especially since some trains operate on electricity.

Bus

Travelling by bus is a lot more efficient and environmentally friendly than either driving or flying. Both buses and trains not only use significantly less fuel, but they also release much lower amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Ferry

If you’re seeking something a little different, why not take the ferry? Ferry ports often have good links with other public transport, so that you can continue your journey back on solid ground. Alongside the reduced carbon emissions your journey will produce, you’ll also get a lot more leg room! Prices among the ferries and the tunnel services are competitive, and both options are good green alternatives to flying.

To illustrate the benefits of avoiding air travel, here’s a comparison of CO2 emissions per flight per person for an Amsterdam to London route. This table shows how alternatives to flying can dramatically reduce carbon emissions while providing practical travel times.

Transport Mode	CO₂ Emissions (Per Person)	Travel Time
Airplane	~250 kg	~1h 15m (flight only)
Car (Petrol, 1 passenger)	~192 g/km*	~6h+ (including Eurotunnel or ferry crossing)
Electric Train (Eurostar)	~36 kg	~4h direct
Coach	~27 g/km*	~10h–12h
Ferry	~22.5 g/km*	~6h–7h (overnight routes possible)

How Can I Calculate My Carbon Emissions?

If you want to understand the true environmental impact of your journey, the first step is to calculate your carbon emissions. Online tools such as EcoPassenger allow you to compare the CO₂ emissions of different transport options across Europe. By entering your departure and destination cities, you’ll get an estimate of your emissions for flights, trains and cars, helping you make a more sustainable choice.

As a B Corp Certified company, we’re committed to making travel as sustainable as possible. That’s why we carefully measure the carbon footprint of every tour we operate and work on a programme of continuous improvement to reduce those emissions year after year. By tracking, evaluating and adapting, we ensure that our adventures become greener over time while still delivering incredible experiences.

What Can We Do to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Flights?

1. Avoid Short-Haul Flights

Only fly when the trip is long and non-stop. The bulk of a plane’s carbon footprint is generated at take-off and landing. Reducing short-haul flights is one of the most effective steps towards sustainable aviation.

While some might say the answer is to never fly, we realise that tourism is a key driver of economic growth in many destinations that can only be reached by plane. Eliminating air travel would be devastating for all of the people who depend on tourism for their livelihoods. We also believe that travel is necessary to develop an open mind and appreciate cultural differences. So we don’t advocate giving up flying altogether, but be sure to limit air travel to those faraway destinations and stay for as long as you can.

2. Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

You may find that for a longer journey, a flight produces fewer carbon emissions than an alternative mode of transport. This is an example of the advantages of air travel. It’s important to weigh up your options depending on your destination. Tools for flight carbon offsetting can also help you balance unavoidable emissions.

3. Take the Train

Trains can be a more sustainable flight alternative. Skip the flight to avoid the dreaded queues and experience the beauty of taking the train instead of the plane. This will substantially reduce your carbon emissions, perhaps even by a factor of five to ten on a domestic trip.

According to EcoPassenger, a journey from London to Madrid would emit 43kg of CO2 per passenger by train, but 118kg by plane (or 265kg if the non-CO2 emissions are included).

4. Pack Light

The more weight an aeroplane has to carry, the more fuel it will use. Pack your luggage as light as possible to reduce the amount of fuel used and thus decrease your CO2 footprint. Research has shown that lightening your luggage by 7kg would decrease your emissions by about 36kg on a ten-hour flight!

5. Explore Your Destination Sustainably

Getting to your destination is just one part of the equation. Unless you brought your car, you will need a way to get around the destination once you’ve arrived. Instead of hiring a driver or renting a car, be adventurous and opt for public transportation. Ride the tramway. Hop on a bus. Take the train. Just note that the efficiency of public transport can vary from one destination to the next.

If you are up for a more active experience, spend the day exploring by bicycle or on foot – one of the most eco-friendly ways to travel without flying. There are plenty of local walking tours to choose from that will give you a real local’s perspective.

6. Eat Local

From seafood to curries, to pastas to vegetables, every destination offers unique delicacies and tasty bites. When eating abroad, take advantage of the opportunity to try all of the local dishes that you can’t get at home.

Learn about the traditional cuisine, shop at local food markets and dine at restaurants that source their ingredients from local farmers and fishers. Do your best to avoid imported foods, which must be transported from far away and require more packaging and refrigeration to preserve them along the way. When travelling with us, we’ll always give you handy tips on which restaurants pride themselves on using locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients.

By eating local foods instead of imported ones, you’ll reduce the carbon footprint of your meal while also supporting the local economy. Plus, you’ll get to experience the local food culture and enjoy some of the freshest cuisine out there!

Opt For Lower Impact Travel Today

There are so many benefits of avoiding air travel for both you as an individual and our planet, and reducing your carbon footprint on top of these is just the cherry on top.

It’s naive to expect everyone to completely stop all activities and habits that affect their carbon footprint, but there are many ways you can consciously reduce it significantly, like switching your method of travel. What are a few adjustments to your lifestyle here and there in the grand scheme of saving our planet?

We’re passionate about ensuring our adventures are as sustainable as possible. That’s why we carefully evaluate the carbon footprint of every tour. Explore our range of bespoke UK tours to experience the beauty of the great outdoors today.

FAQ’s on Air Travel and Sustainability

1. How bad is flying for the environment?
Flights account for around 2.4% of global CO2 emissions, but when including water vapour and other gases, aviation contributes roughly 4% of global warming. We can reduce the environmental cost of air travel through using public transport instead.

2. What are the best alternatives to flying in Europe?
Trains (especially electric), ferries and coaches produce far lower emissions and often have convenient schedules for UK travel.

3. Can packing light really make a difference?
Yes! Less luggage reduces fuel consumption and your airplane carbon footprint. Even a 7kg reduction can lower emissions significantly.

4. Are there truly eco-friendly planes?
Some technologies aim to lower emissions, but the most sustainable option is to travel without flying when feasible.

5. How can I offset my flight carbon footprint?
Flight carbon offsetting programs fund projects that reduce CO2 elsewhere, like reforestation or renewable energy. They help mitigate the environmental impact of necessary flights. We already plant a tree for you when you travel with us to mitigate the carbon footprint of your tour, but you can also choose to purchase an extra tree (or more!) to provide further carbon mitigation for your travels