Air Travel

This headline appeared in The Irish Times on the 22nd April 2006. As oil rose to a new peak of $75 a barrell the airline's chief executive, Dermot Mannion, said the cost of fuel had increased by 86% since the start of 2005 and in turn this had forced Aer Lingus to charge customers extra for long haul flights to USA and Dubai. 

For a long time we have been enjoying the benefits of cheap air fares in a competitive market without any consdieration of how all these planes criss crossing our skies is affecting our environment. It is estimated by the air travel calculator at www.chooseclimate.org that a passenger flight from London to Athens would release 2,336kg CO₂ into the atmosphere, therefore after one trip a passenger would have to go without heating, cooking, lighting and mechaanised transport for 2 years and 9 months to make up for their impact on the environment. 

So what can we do? As oil prices increase and we reach the peak of oil production it is inevitable that air fares will increase but what about the real damage that is occuring now. Check out our tips below on how to curb your greenhouse emissions while going on holiday. 

• Visit Climate Care, here you will be able to invest in programmes to offset your carbon emissions while flying. For example for a return flight from Dublin to London Heathrow; 1 passenger produces 0.10 tonnes of CO₂ and offsetting this will cost you 74p (sterling). You can build up a carbon profile covering your air travel and car use and offset your emissions yearly, should you wish.
  


• We all tend to look for the cheapest flights available on the web and this can often lead to travelling first to London and onward from there. Try checking flights from Dublin first they may cost you a little more but significantly reduce emissions and the hassle of extra journey time.


• It is recommended that everyone takes at least 2 consecutive weeks off from work; research has shown that a number of mini breaks does not allow us to sufficiently relax and turn of from the stress of the workplace. When planning your holidays this year try and keep your flight numbers down. European trains are an energy efficient and enjoyable way to travel. You could get a return flight to a central European city and explore the continent by train over 2 weeks instead of a number of small breaks throughout the year.


• Explore Ireland and the UK. Many of us complain that holidays in Ireland are more expensive then going abroad and without the benefit of endless blue skys but a holiday in Ireland can be relaxing and enjoyable. How much of the country have you seen? It's estimated that  taking your car by ferry to the UK is 13 times more considerate to the atmosphere then travelling by plane.


• Some holidays are designed to be as Eco friendly as possible. Does the travel company you are using support local industry and operate in an Eco friendly manner? There is an increasing number of Eco friendly travel operators and web sites or alternatively ask your local travel shop for their advice.