The Chancellor, in his recent budget, has slashed taxes (Air Passenger Duty - APD) on domestic flights. This cut is forecast to lead to 400,000 extra air journeys a year, increasing aviation's impact on global warning at a time when deep cuts to CO2 emssions need to be made. An increase in APD allied with significant investment in a fully integrated rail network would have made a lot more sense.
The chancellor said his Budget will help the government meet its net zero carbon targets. We don't see how he can possibly make that claim.
A single passenger travelling on a domestic flight in Britain (or any short haul flight of less than 3 hours duration), can lead to the emissions of around 254g per kilometre per passenger according the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
The same calculations estimate a long-haul flight (over 6 hours) can release the equivalent to 102g of CO2 for every kilometre – a lower figure on average per kilometre because of the huge amount of emissions given off during take-off and landing which is whats makes short haul flights so damaging.
An intercity train releases the equivalent of just 41g for every passenger mile. Travelling by coach releases even less – the equivalent of just 28g of CO2.