The pact between the PSOE and Sumar to reduce short flights with a train alternative of up to two and a half hours has the main objective of reducing CO2 emissions. Its scope has yet to be determined and discrepancies between the two driving parties are already anticipated. But whether it is a broad application, as Sumar defends, or a more limited one, as the socialists seem to prefer, its effect on the environment can be discreet if we look at the polluting weight of the different types of flight.
It is not harmless. As happened with the French case, it sends a message about the need to promote more sustainable means of transport. Now, beyond the symbolism “it does not seem like an effective policy from the point of view of reducing emissions,” considers Pere Suau-Sanchez, an expert in the airline industry at the UOC and Cranfield University.
An analysis by Eurocontrol concludes that flights of less than 500 km account for 30.6% of all operations originating in Europe, but are responsible for 4.3% of polluting emissions from the airline industry. All routes potentially affected by the agreement – the Barcelona-Madrid, Madrid-Valencia, Madrid-Alicante, Madrid-Málaga and Madrid-Seville air bridge – are 500 km or less.
"On the other hand, flights of more than 4,000 km are only 6% of operations, but 50% of emissions, so that 1% of the world's population generates 50% of aviation emissions," he emphasizes. Suau-Sanchez. “If effectiveness is sought,” he continues, “we should rate by travel distance and number of flights consumed, as is already done in other industries where resources are limited.” That is, establish a pricing system where those who fly the most and pollute the most pay.
As route distance increases, so do emissions. Trips of between 500 and 1,500 km account for 20.6% of aviation polluting gases, says Eurocontrol. That is why environmental entities demand action on a greater range of flights. A report by Ecologistas en Acción from just a few days ago follows this line and calculates a saving of 300,000 tons of CO2 if flights with train alternatives of up to four hours were eliminated. This would affect eleven peninsular domestic routes and some 50,000 operations per year.
Now, restricting the five routes on which the government pact plans would impact the business of airlines, such as Iberia and Vueling, with Barajas and El Prat as the main airports affected. Proof of this is the commotion generated in the sector as soon as the news was heard on Tuesday, since the Barcelona-Madrid bridge adds some 2.5 million annual passengers, mainly business.
However, this type of customer has been replacing the plane with the train since the liberalization of the high-speed service. In 2019, 64% of business travelers opted for trains, while 36% chose flights for their trip between Madrid and Barcelona, according to TravelPerk, a business travel management platform. This 2023, business travelers who prefer rail has increased to 77%. “Our analyzes of flight, train and hotel reservations in several markets highlight the significant drop in train ticket prices in Spain, as well as the increase in preference for trains on main routes instead of planes,” he comments. Adrià Izard, director of TravelPerk Spain. The entry of new suppliers, increased frequencies and reduced prices “have acted as catalysts for these changes,” he adds.
While the price of the train ticket has fallen by 51% in the third quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2019, that of the plane ticket has risen by 14%, according to data from this reservation platform. A trend that does seem to be having an impact on the reduction of flights.
