A group of major international companies have committed to cutting one-fifth of their business flights over five years in a move that may further depress the outlook for corporate carriers such as British Airways (BA).
Marks & Spencer, Vodafone UK, technology companies Capgemini and Premiere Global, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency have signed up to axe 20% of their flights by 2014 in a campaign organised by nature charity WWF-UK and supported by travel managers’ association, the Institute of Travel and Meetings (ITM).
Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers attended the launch of WWF-UK’s One in Five Challenge in London on Monday, saying: “I warmly welcome the initiative. Reducing carbon emissions becomes more urgent every day and there is particular concern about the environmental impact of flying. The scale of the climate calamity coming towards us means we need a cultural shift in the way we do business.”
WWF-UK chief executive David Nussbaum said: “Climate is already changing faster than expected and we want to see business contribute to the sustainability of the natural world. WWF is not against flying, but aviation is a significant contributor to climate change today and could produce 35% of global carbon dioxide by 2050.”
Nussbaum said the scheme was the first of its kind and had targeted the UK because, “The UK produces more air travel emissions per head than any other country.”
Companies will seek to cut flights by switching to rail or substituting video or teleconferencing.
Capgemini north-west Europe technology services chief executive Christine Hodgson said: “Business travel is vital to our model, but we have to get people to travel less.”
The scheme will be independently audited and companies completing the challenge will be able to display the WWF panda logo. WWF-UK said at least other 10 firms are close to joining and it hopes to have up to 50 involved eventually.
BA chief executive Willie Walsh has blamed a recession-induced collapse in premium travel for plunging the airline into “a fight for survival”. The carrier is considering reducing the flat-bed seats on some routes as it struggles to cope.