The other day I heard another company say they were going to fly in Economy Class - because it has less environmental impact (saves CO2) – and I thought, hold on, ENOUGH. This is just wrong!
I get where the idea comes from and have read the research study published by two guys from World Bank [2013] and their concept that premium seats occupy more space and must therefore cost more CO2 but, travelling in economy, versus travelling in business does NOT save anything (other than money).
The current aircraft is still going to fly regardless of where you sit. Only if the airline changes its seating configuration will more people be able to fit on board, and only then will the average carbon footprint per passenger reduce.
Otherwise, although financially cheaper, flying in economy does not do anything at all for the environment. All it does is scrunch you up and make the journey less comfortable.
Demand is the only thing that has a real long-term impact: fewer overall passengers = fewer overall flights.
I accept that if more passengers do choose to fly in economy class then airline configurations may potentially change (resulting in more seats, and possibly fewer flights able to carry more people). However, squeezing as many passengers as possible into an aeroplane in an attempt to reduce the average carbon footprint is no way to gain public support for the environment.
My own view:Travel less but travel well…and when you do travel, be prepared to pay an environmental price for the privilege (SAF premium). This is the most effective way to reduce your environmental impact in the short term