Flying one-way should reduce travel emissions

Sustainability is the buzzword in tourism and gastronomy but, in practice, it is not that easy to implement. For example, if flights in Europe are still much cheaper (and easier) than train journeys, it is difficult for travellers to let their climate conscience outweigh financial considerations.

In a bid to help people reduce their carbon emissions, Charitable Travel is offering packages which combine flying one way with train travel in the opposite direction, also helping travellers incorporate more slow travel into their breaks.

“Flying is the single biggest contributor of CO₂ emissions that any individual makes,” said Melissa Tilling, Founder and Chief Executive at Charitable Travel.

Popular European city breaks as a fly-one way option are achievable, with the price variation not differing too much, and the travelling duration still making a weekend trip viable while cutting travel emissions in half.

“Our top tip is to take the train outbound to ease into your break and opt to fly back for a quicker return,” added Tilling.

For example, a package for a long-weekend break in Cannes from London with three nights costs from £540 per person, including an outbound train journey from London St Pancras (9 hours, including one change), and a flight home to Heathrow (two hours). If travellers fly both ways it costs from £450 per person. Travelling to Venice for two nights from London will take 20 hours and three changes by train.

Charitable Travel was founded in 2020; the social enterprise donates five per cent of the holiday cost – usually charged to generate profit – to a charity of the customer’s choice via a partnership with JustGiving.