Greenpeace is calling for the introduction of a kerosene tax in Europe, including Germany, due to the distorted prices of train travel compared to flying. A recent study by the environmental organization compared the costs of train travel and flights on 112 popular routes in Europe, revealing that flying is significantly cheaper in most cases. The study included both advance bookings and last-minute bookings, but did not take into account individual discounts such as the Bahncard or frequent flyer programs. The results showed that flying is cheaper than train travel in almost three-quarters (71%) of cases, while train travel is cheaper in less than a quarter (23%).
Despite train travel not requiring a complicated check-in or security screening, last-minute bookings are particularly expensive. According to Marissa Reiserer, a transport expert at Greenpeace, subsidies from the aviation industry are primarily responsible for the distorted prices. Greenpeace is calling for a kerosene tax of 50 cents per liter, which would generate approximately €46.2 billion annually in Europe and be invested in expanding rail infrastructure. The organization also called for a progressive tax for frequent flyers and an end to frequent flyer programs in 2021.
The study revealed significant differences in prices for simple train journeys and flights at different booking times. A train journey from Berlin to Prague would not only be cheaper than a connecting flight via Warsaw, but would also cause only a small fraction of greenhouse gas emissions per person. However, for travel from Berlin to London, Brussels, or Copenhagen, it is always cheaper to take a flight, whether planned or last-minute. The largest price difference was found on the route from Barcelona to London, where the train ticket costs up to 30 times more than the flight ticket. Greenpeace argues that “apparent bargain flights are only possible because others bear the true costs, such as poor working conditions and the consequences of the climate crisis.”
