Only ‘elite’ will fly long-haul in 30 years
Long-haul flying in 30 years will be the reserve of an elite group of people as a reduction in flights becomes the only way to alter the impact on the environment.
This was the bleak picture painted by senior industry figures at Travelmole’s Travel Industry Question Time green debate.
Federation of Tour Operators director general Andy Cooper said: “In 30 years time Dubai’s biggest markets will be India and China and we will be staying relatively close to home. An elite number will be going long-haul. We won’t just be flying less but flying closer.”
Other panellists agreed that Cooper’s vision could become more of a reality as other potential solutions failed.
Responsibletravel.com managing director Justin Francis said: “It’s hard to see in five or 10 years time what the solution will be. There is so much regulation to stop taxation on the airline industry and experts say putting airlines into the emissions trading solution would break the scheme.”
Cooper also advised against blaming the aviation industry for everything and added that imposing more taxes on other sectors, such as the motor industry, had not stopped the growth.
Panellists also criticised the government for its apparent lack of support when the travel industry is seeking guidance on the best way forward.
Speaking about the government’s latest initiative setting standards for carbon offsetting schemes – which has lready been criticised by Silverjet – Cooper said: “There is no sense of joined up thinking from government.
“There are a lot of people setting up carbon offsetting schemes so there is the possibility of cowboys moving in to the market but we don’t want to end up with schemes that don’t work. We want to ensure that projects are in places our customers are going to.”
He added the initiative had been launched without the full co-operation of the industry.
“We did not feel it was appropriate. It’s great in theory but bears no relationship to the real world.”
Francis added that the industry was ready to make changes but the government was not responding.
*See linked stories and Comment
Report by Linda Fox
Linda Fox
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