Air and rail compared over short-haul distances

Published: 4 February, 2024 | Tags:

As part of their commitment to net-zero, many European countries are preparing to ban short-haul flights where rail alternatives exist. This paper examines in depth the climate-change consequences of replacing air travel with rail transport:

The picture is more compicated than a straightforward “rail good, air bad” but it’s also important to note who commissioned the paper.

It was published by Oxera on behalf of ERA, ACI EUROPE, ASD Europe, CANSO and A4E, see table below

OrganisationExplainer
ERAEuropean Regions Airline Association
ASD EuropeAerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe
ACI EUROPEAirports Council International Europe
CANSOCivil Aviation Navigation Services Europe
A4EAirlines for Europe