Airline passengers are willing to pay an average of 11% on top of their ticket cost to offset carbon emissions from flying, a new study suggests.
More than half are also open to taking longer flights at slower speed or carrying lighter baggage to reduce their carbon footprint.
The findings from a passenger insights survey by aviation sector IT provider Sita found that sustainability remains “front of mind” for passengers.
Those travelling by air are willing to take on extra commitments in terms of cost and time in order to make their travel greener, according to the global poll of more than 7,000 passengers.
Sita chief executive David Lavorel said: “Passengers are telling the industry that they are willing to meet us halfway in terms of the shift towards net-zero aviation.
“Their openness to carbon offsetting and changing behaviours around baggage will supplement airlines’ and airports’ commitment to reducing emissions through measures like sustainable technology and changes to operations and infrastructure.”
The study also found that almost two-thirds (64%) of passengers highlight shorter airport queues as the most important improvement to the travel process they’d like to see.
Biometrics have been proven to speed up passenger processing times, but half of passengers express lingering concerns around data privacy.
“This points to a clear need for education and reassurance about the safety and benefits of biometric technology, which are tested against rigorous data security standards,” the report said.
However, Sita found that passengers rate their comfort levels with biometrics relatively highly, at an average of 6.7 out of 10.
Three out of four passengers surveyed also reported being comfortable with having their passport stored on their mobile phone through a secure ‘digital travel credential’ and sharing this in advance to speed up the journey.
“This signals the hugely important role digital identities will play in the travel experience of the future,” Sita added.
Lavorel said: “We are on the cusp of a new era in travel, as unprecedented demand converges with technological innovations that have the power to revolutionise the journey.
“The appetite from passengers is clear: they’re eager to embrace the latest digital solutions to make their experience swifter and more streamlined than ever before.
“The responsibility falls to the industry to ensure travellers are fully informed of the advanced data security and privacy-preserving potential of biometrics.”