Introduce restrictions on short haul flights
Restrict internal flights within the UK mainland where straightforward alternative travel options are available by public transport, and ensure travelling overland is more affordable.
An average short haul flight creates six times more climate change per passenger than the same journey by rail (based on UK Government figures197).
As part of France’s 2021 climate law a restriction on short haul flights is being introduced following approval by the European Commission.198 The plan is to abolish flights between cities that are linked by a train journey of less than 2.5 hours.
The Scottish Government would need to work with the UK Government to introduce this kind of policy, and to ensure that island communities were protected.
For further information:
- Aviation Strategy response, Transform Scotland, 2022, https://transform.scot/wp-content/ uploads/2022/01/Aviation-Strategy-discussion-paper-Transform-Scotland-2022-01-21-1.pdf
- Setting limits on flights, Stay Grounded, https://stay-grounded.org/setting-limits-on-flights/
Let’s make it easier to choose train over plane, Campaign for Better Transport, 2023, https://bettertransport.org.uk/blog/lets-make-iteasier- to-choose-train-over-plane
It’s official: France bans short haul domestic flights in favour of train travel, Euronews, 2023, https://www.euronews.com/ green/2022/12/02/is-france-banning-private-jets-everything-we-know-from-a-week-of-green-transport-proposals
