A small minority of frequent flyers are responsible for a significant portion of global air travel, according to a report by the British climate protection project, Possible. The report, titled Elite Status: Global Inequalities in Flying, found that in most countries, a small group of individuals are responsible for the majority of flights. This pattern is consistent across the world, including in Canada, China, India, and the Netherlands. The report also found that frequent flyers tend to have higher incomes, which aligns with a previous study by Oxfam that found wealthy individuals contribute disproportionately to climate change.
Possible is calling for a progressive tax on frequent flyers, with support from Greenpeace. The tax would increase based on the frequency and duration of flights, with minimal impact on those who only fly once a year. The aim is to reduce the carbon footprint of air travel and address the inequality of its impact. “The report shows the patterns of injustice worldwide. A small minority of frequent flyers have an unfairly high share of flights,” said Alethea Warrington of Possible. John Sauven of Greenpeace UK also called for an end to frequent flyer programs, stating that they are “obscene in times of climate crisis.”
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) also called for similar measures in 2019, suggesting a higher tax on airlines instead of a direct tax on customers. However, this would primarily affect low and middle-income individuals who already book fewer flights. The introduction of a frequent flyer tax has the potential to gain widespread support, as it addresses the disproportionate impact of air travel on the environment and society.
