Possible-2021年全球航空旅行不平等报告（英文）-2021.4-54页_991kb

Elite Status: Global Inequalities in Flying

Core Content

This report, titled Elite Status: Global Inequalities in Flying, explores the disparity in air travel frequency and emissions between different groups of people, both within and across countries. It highlights how a small minority of the global population accounts for a disproportionately large share of aviation-related carbon emissions and flight activity, despite the fact that air travel is not universally accessible.

Main Views

• Air travel is highly unequal: A small group of individuals, particularly those from wealthier nations, contribute significantly to the total number of flights and emissions, while the majority of people do not fly at all.
• Frequent flyers are the elite: In the UK, 15% of the population accounts for 70% of all flights, and this pattern is observed in many other countries.
• Income is a major determinant: Higher income individuals tend to fly more often and for longer distances, contributing more to the carbon footprint of air travel.
• Climate impact is significant: Aviation is one of the most carbon-intensive activities, and the concentration of emissions among the elite exacerbates the environmental burden.
• Need for equitable climate action: The report suggests that targeting frequent flyers through policy mechanisms like a frequent flyer levy could help reduce emissions without compromising access to air travel for the less affluent.

Key Information

Global Inequality in Flying

• Only a small proportion of the global population flies: Less than 20% of the world's population has ever flown, and only 5–10% fly in any given year.
• Top 10% of the global population account for 76% of energy consumption associated with package holidays.
• Top 10 countries in terms of passenger aviation CO₂ emissions account for 60% of total emissions, and 30 countries account for 86%.
• Top 10% of households in EU countries account for 41% of the carbon footprint generated by air travel, while the bottom 5% account for a much smaller share.
• Elite status in travel: In most travel loyalty programs, fewer than 15% of members have elite status, indicating a small group of frequent travelers.

Inequality in the UK

• 70% of UK flights are taken by 15% of the population (frequent flyers).
• 50% of UK residents do not fly at all in a given year.
• 89% of UK residents' trips abroad in 2018 were for leisure.
• High-income groups fly more frequently and for longer distances, contributing significantly to the growth in air travel.
• Income disparity in travel is evident in the UK, with the top 10% of households having an average aviation carbon footprint of 4.7 tCO₂eq/person, compared to 0.001 tCO₂eq/person for the bottom 5%.
• Business travel is a significant component, with 25% of flights attributed to business travel, and business travelers flying 10.2 times per year on average.

Inequality in Other Countries

• United States: 48% of the population flies in a 12-month period, with the top 50% of households accounting for ~80% of flights.
• China: Less than 50% of the population has flown, with those who do flying an average of 2.1–2.7 overseas flights per year.
• Germany: 33% of the population flies, with 8% flying more than once a year.
• France: 25% of the population flew in 2014, with 2% flying more than once a year.
• Singapore: Over 50% of the population flew in 2008, with an average of 5.2 flights per year.
• India: Only 11% of the population flies, with 4% of business travelers being frequent flyers.
• Australia: 51% of the population flies, with a concentration of 73% of flights among 22% of the population.
• Canada: 52% of the population flies, with 22% of the population accounting for 73% of flights.
• Indonesia: 21.1 times more flights per capita are taken by the top 55.8% of the population compared to the bottom 2.6%.
• Luxembourg: Has the highest proportion of residents who regularly travel to other EU countries (28%).
• Luxembourg and Slovenia have the highest proportions of residents who travel to other EU countries.

Factors Influencing Flying Frequency

• Income: The primary factor in determining who flies more frequently.
• Education and occupation: Higher education and employment are correlated with more frequent flying.
• Age: Studies suggest that frequent flyers tend to be middle-aged (35–64), though data varies by country.
• Migration background: Individuals with a migration background may have different travel patterns.
• Airport access: Better access to airports correlates with more air travel.
• Environmental awareness: Some studies suggest that people with higher environmental concerns are more likely to fly, though this relationship is not consistent across all research.

Conclusion

The report concludes that air travel is an unequal and environmentally damaging activity, dominated by a small elite group. It calls for frequent flyer levies and other demand management strategies to address the disproportionate contribution of this group to aviation emissions, while preserving access to air travel for the less well-off. It emphasizes the need for fair, equitable, and just climate policies that target the most harmful contributors to emissions.

Appendices Summary

• Appendix 1: Total passenger aviation CO₂ emissions by country in 2018.
• Appendix 2: Adjusted and unadjusted per capita passenger aviation CO₂ emissions in 2018.
• Appendix 4: Eurobarometer statistics on holiday frequency by EU country.
• Appendix 5: Share of first class travel by region.
• Appendix 6: Air travel carbon footprint in 26 countries.
• Appendix 7: Mastercard outbound travel in Asia Pacific study in 2017.
• Appendix 8: Air travel expenditure in the EU.
• Appendix 9: Country surveys about flight frequency distributions.
• Appendix 10: Other relevant country-specific surveys.

Disclaimer

• All data pre-dates the pandemic.
• No guarantees are provided regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information.
• No liability is accepted for loss or damage resulting from the use of this report.