Taking the practice to vacation spots in Europe is 4 occasions costlier than flying on common, in line with new analysis.
The examine from Greenpeace UK, printed as faculties break up for summer time holidays, in contrast ticket costs on greater than 100 routes between main European cities.
It discovered that folks wishing to journey in a extra environmentally pleasant would pay roughly twice the quantity than in the event that they flew.
However the fee rises to 4 occasions as a lot for journeys to or from the UK, as a result of the practice connection is so expensive.
Dr Doug Parr, Greenpeace UK’s director of coverage, blamed it on the “twisted economics of the transport business” that taxes practice corporations greater than airways.
It comes as a heatwave, fuelled by local weather change, impacts many in style vacationer locations in Europe.
Aviation is accountable for about 2.5% of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions, however not many individuals fly – solely about one in 10 of the world’s inhabitants takes a flight every year.
The researchers analysed routes between massive cities in 27 international locations, and checked the costs on 9 completely different dates starting from 4 months upfront to just some of days earlier than departure, to think about worth modifications and last-minute offers.
Flights had been cheaper on 79 out of 112 routes – about 70%.
The worth distinction was extra dramatic on particular routes reminiscent of travelling from Barcelona to London.
By practice, the journey was 10 occasions costlier on common, and as much as 30 occasions at quick discover – the most important worth distinction on this evaluation.
London to Barcelona takes about 10 hours by practice and two hours by aircraft, though flying includes further time to examine in time and journey into the town centre on arrival.
Flying was persistently cheaper on all 12 of the UK routes within the examine, together with home routes between London and Scotland.
The report blames these worth variations on an “uneven regulatory taking part in subject” that advantages low-cost airways.
It mentioned airways can provide decrease costs as a result of they pay no tax on jet gasoline, whereas practice operators pay power taxes and tolls in most European international locations.
“Flying solely seems like a cut price as a result of the price of air pollution is so low-cost,” mentioned Dr Parr.