Business travelers are still preferring to buy a cheaper ticket rather than paying extra for environmentally friendlier choice, says a recent survey. In addition, only approximately one in ten respondents chose the environmental friendliness as one of the most important criterion, and only just under half of the respondents would be willing to pay more for an environmentally friendly flight.
Aviation emissions have long been at the forefront of public debate, and the future of air travel has been the topic again this summer.
Together with research company Bilendi, LYGG carried out a questionnaire measuring business travellers’ air travel behaviour. The survey found that well under half (40%) of the respondents would be prepared to pay more to ensure that their journey was environmentally friendly.
“It’s certainly not a question of whether the reduction of emissions or climate change is considered important. We, as operators in the aviation industry, must find ways to integrate environmental responsibility into our operation models so that passengers do not have to make a choice separately,” says Roope Kekäläinen, CEO of LYGG.
According to Kekäläinen, the focus should be on making the whole business more sustainable rather than on surcharges. The LYGG business model already allows us to take a leap in the right direction. Flying directly to the actual destination, right-sizing aircrafts according the number of passengers and using renewable aviation fuel will significantly reduce the environmental impact.
“With these principles, we can achieve actual environmental impacts, and our corporate customers save time and reduce the overall cost of their travel. We approach the aviation business model in a new way, creating routes based on real market demand,” Kekäläinen challenges.
Direct Flights Are the Most Important Booking Criterion – Environmental Friendliness the Last
Environmental friendliness is not high on the list when business travelers ranked the most important criteria in connection with booking their flights.
Direct flights were the most important criterion chosen by 66 per cent of the respondents. The second most important criterion (43%) was the total duration of the journey, and the third was schedule flexibility (42%). On the other hand, price was the top priority for 37% of the respondents. The questionnaire allowed respondents to pick several options.
Environmental friendliness ranked last among all the criteria, with only 11% of respondents selecting it as one of their top priorities.
“Flying continues to increase, and this year, more people are flying than ever before. The environmental impact of flying has become even a source of shame for some. However, business travelers should be able to trust that we, as operators in the aviation industry, are committed to addressing environmental issues in the best possible way. It is our responsibility,” Kekäläinen says.
*The survey was conducted online on Bilendi’s M3 panel from June 13 to 24, 2024. It was answered by 750 Finns and Swedes aged 18 and over who had commuted to work by air in the last 12 months.
More information:
Heidi Koivisto, Communications Manager, LYGG
+358 50 389 2863, heidi.koivisto@lygg.com
LYGG is a revolutionary digital platform for business travel, providing direct air connections for efficient commutes. LYGG saves time, money and the environment. LYGG is involved in innovating and building a more sustainable future for aviation.
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