How zero-emission flights could redefine travel
Zero-emission flights could transform travel, but their true environmental impact depends on the industry’s transparency and traveller choices, say researchers.
Participants were more concerned about the prices of flights than the length, showing that industry has a key role to play in making zero-emission flights accessible.
People who cared more about the environment were more attracted to zero-emission flights – but they may not have been aware of the non-CO2 effects of flying, such as nitrogen oxides, soot, and sulphur aerosols.
The research team, led by Dr Milad Mehdizadeh at the Institute for Transport Studies, evaluated travellers’ responses to zero-emission flights and other modes of transport based on travel time, cost and carbon emissions.
The paper is co-authored by Dr Maarten Kroesen (Delft University of Technology) and Dr Mirco Peron (NEOMA Business School).
How could travel behaviour change?
The transition to net-zero transport is essential to mitigate the climate emergency.
Environmental and climate activists argue that we need to reduce flights to cut down on carbon emissions, while the aviation industry is marketing "zero-emission flights" as a cleaner alternative.
However, it’s not possible to understand what impact zero-emission flights would have without knowing how travellers will react to them.
These flights might be more expensive and could take longer due to fuel and charging limitations.
This research investigated how this could affect travellers' decisions about how to travel, and therefore, how zero-emission flights would impact the transport sector.
The aviation industry’s role
They found that people have different preferences when it comes to choosing zero-emission flights. For most people, the cost of the ticket will be more important than the length of the flight.
Those who are environmentally conscious, who feel "flight shame" and prefer using trains, might be more likely to switch to zero-emission flights.
Most marketing around these flights focuses on reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, but the climate impact of aviation is also significantly influenced by non-CO2 emissions.
This means that zero-emission flights may not be completely free from harmful emissions.
The conversation should not just be about making flights cleaner but also about making smarter travel choices overall
“While zero-emission flights present an exciting innovation, they are not a silver bullet for aviation’s climate impact,” said Dr Mehdizadeh.
“If airlines successfully promote these flights as ‘clean,’ even environmentally conscious travellers might fly more, potentially increasing overall emissions due to non-CO₂ effects.
“The conversation should not just be about making flights cleaner but also about making smarter travel choices overall.”
As well as more public awareness about the non-CO2 effects of flying, the researchers call for future research to verify the true environmental impact of zero-emissions flights.
