The way we move around the continent is long overdue a shakeup, not simply to steer towards climate objectives but to better connect Europe and revive industries left by the wayside or exported wholesale.
Whilst some gestures to reduce the market command that airlines enjoy (such as restricting short-haul flights) have given a hint that flying might not be the transport mode of the future, these have in practice been lacklustre and too easily circumvented. One of the flaws of efforts so far has been the reluctance to impose laws on the EU level, limiting their effectiveness.
Then there is the fact that aviation companies are immensely influential – even more so those that cater to the smallest budgets. Europe's biggest airline, Ryanair, has promoted itself as a champion of democracy in the field of travel, responsible for lifting the price barrier so that less affluent Europeans can also enjoy different climates and cultures.
With the benefit of low intervention and subsidies, who hasn't at some point taken advantage of the unbeatable tickets that low-cost airlines offer? And though we might have to pinch ourselves as we marvel that we can visit sea and sun for less than a train ticket across our own country, it is increasingly difficult to square this with our environmental conscience – much as we might fantasise otherwise.
But taking on the titans of the air would be quite a battle that must also clash with public opinion as well as the vested interests of major industries and much of the tourism sector as we know it. This summer season was the busiest in Europe's aviation history, despite the fact that airline tickets are actually higher than before the pandemic. How to put the brakes on?
French Transport Minister Clément Beaune has been trying to drum up support for a proposal to introduce a minimum threshold for tickets. "Plane tickets for €10 while we are in the middle of an ecological transition, that does not reflect the price for our planet," he said. Other nations have voiced approval for such a measure but finding the sweet spot for the price floor is a delicate matter that experts argue would best be decided on the national level to account for the median revenue to draw the line between affordable and unattainable.
Yet many doubt whether such a move would be effective. Surely it would be fairer to address the fact that airlines are exempt from paying VAT on kerosene, a huge advantage that allows them to compete with other transportation such as trains whilst keeping their profit margins. Others argue for a far greater range in ticket prices designed to make the most frequent flyers (biggest polluters) pay the greater share.
Do you feel conflicted about your travel choices? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
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