Focus of work
A small group of relatively wealthy frequent flyers take most of the flights and are responsible for most of the harm to the climate from flying. If they reduced their flying to the same level as most people, that would tackle a big part of the problem of emissions from flying.
A frequent flyer levy would cut air travel by the small group of people who take most of the flights, without making flights more expensive for the rest of the population, who don’t fly often. Cash from taxing frequent flyers could support airline workers into careers fit for a climate-friendly future or be invested in low-carbon travel such as international rail routes.
Possible’s campaign for a frequent flyer levy included public and parliamentary engagement, research, engagement with the aviation industry, and legal action against the government’s aviation strategy.
Impact
The project published several reports:
- Fare competition explores how people in the UK think about what method of transport to use for leisure travel, and what would need to change for them to be able to choose ways of travelling that are better for the climate.
- Net zero and the role of the aviation industry, published with Chatham House, explores how flying less frequently and less far can buy time for decarbonization solutions
It also engaged in activities such as:
- Engaged with MPs about the frequent flyer levy
- Launched a campaign to ask people to email their MP about the frequent flyer levy
- Secured media coverage for the frequent flyer levy in The Times, Independent, Guardian, Daily Mail and BBC
Led a project with think-tank Autonomy about cutting aviation emissions and exploring the potential for job creation through a modal shift to train travel
Worked with the legal team at Leigh Day to file for two judicial reviews of the government’s Jet Zero Strategy
Worked with other organisations including Green Alliance and Safe Landing to hold an MP engagement session in Parliament in May 2024