Britain has become a nation addicted to flying, according to a Guardian/ICM poll out today. It shows that more than two-thirds of people have travelled by plane in the last five years and reveals widespread opposition to government action aimed at cutting the number of people who fly in order to limit climate change.
The poll does reveal a growing level of concern about the impact of air travel. Almost half of air travellers claim they have changed their behaviour in response to fears about the impact on the environment.
But these fears are not being translated into backing for official action. Voters remain strongly opposed to government action to control the rapid growth of the airline industry, such as raising tax levels on air tickets to restrict low-cost airlines. More travellers want taxes on air travel cut than want to see them increased: 30% want a reduction and only 20% higher taxes. Many people (46%) think that tax levels should remain the same, although environmental groups, the Conservative party and the Liberal Democrats all support some form of increase.
At present, airlines do not pay tax on the fuel they use. Air passenger duty, doubled by the chancellor in February to between £10 and £80 a ticket, is regarded as too low by many campaigners. But only 18% of Tory voters back a rise despite their party's policy on reforming air taxes, launched earlier this year. Labour voters are equally hostile, with only Liberal Democrat supporters more in favour of increases than tax cuts.The poll shows that 68% of respondents have travelled at least once by plane in the last five years. Cheap flights have boosted the number of people travelling by air, with airlines such as Ryanair currently offering "10m seats at £10".
But flying remains a middle-class habit: 83% of people in the top AB economic group have flown recently, against 52% of DEs at the bottom of the scale.
Air travel is also weighted towards the south of the country, with 72% of southerners flying in the last five years against 66% in Scotland and the north.
Only 13% of passengers say that they have given up flying as a result of climate change. But 34% of people who fly say that they have cut down on the short-haul trips they take as a result of climate change. A similar proportion, 31%, say that they have reduced long-haul flying.The growing number of air travellers suggests that the reality may differ. People at the top of the economic scale are the least likely to claim they have taken action to help the environment.
Many air passengers also say that they have tried carbon offset schemes to neutralise the impact of their journeys: 29% of all passengers say that they have used such a scheme.Again, that claim may be running ahead of what is actually happening. A recent Financial Times investigation suggested the industry was still in its infancy, with a lack of clarity about how off-setting and carbon trading schemes should work.· ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,003 adults aged 18+ between May 18 and 20. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.
