The Climate Change Committee has recommended raising airfares by the equivalent of 6p–9p per mile by 2050 to cut flying demand and help fund sustainable aviation fuel. The CCC says the phased increases could reduce flights by about 25% and should be written into law as a condition for approving Heathrow's third runway, which seeks permission by 2029. Airlines and business groups warn the measure risks making flying unaffordable for many and call for alternatives such as airspace reform and scaling SAF production.
Climate Advisers Urge £600 Rise In Family Airfares To Curb Flying And Fund Green Jet Fuel
An artist's impression of the planned third runway at Heathrow - Heathrow Airport/PA
A leading climate advisory body has recommended that the UK Government significantly raise airfares — the equivalent of about 6p–9p per mile by 2050 — arguing the measure would both reduce flying demand and help pay for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
What The Climate Change Committee Proposes
The Climate Change Committee (CCC), which advises ministers on climate policy, told the Government that a "polluter pays" approach should be used to make air travellers shoulder a larger share of aviation's decarbonisation costs. The CCC says phased increases proportional to 6p–9p per mile by 2050 would:
- Reduce demand for flights by around 25%;
- Generate revenue to subsidise costly sustainable aviation fuel (SAF);
- Be similar in scale to petrol duty and could be introduced gradually.
As examples, the CCC estimates the measure would add roughly £150 to a return ticket to Alicante — about £600 for a family of four — and around £400 to an individual return flight to New York under the proposed scale.
Why The Recommendation Was Made
The CCC framed its recommendation in the context of Heathrow's proposed third runway. It urged that any expansion be conditional on legally enshrined requirements forcing the aviation industry to cut emissions, and said those conditions should be set before ministers approve the runway (a decision the runway project aims to secure by 2029).
Nigel Topping, Chair of the CCC: "Our key conclusion is that the Government cannot expand Heathrow Airport without requiring the aviation industry to clean up its emissions. Emissions from flying are projected to rise even without Heathrow expansion and the UK does not currently have a credible plan to bring them down."
The committee also noted distributional facts it says justify targeting air travel: roughly half of people in England do not fly abroad at all, while the wealthiest 20% of the population account for nearly two-fifths of flights.
Industry And Business Reaction
Industry groups warned the measures could disproportionately affect ordinary travellers. Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said the plan risked "turning the clock back to a time when flying was the preserve of the rich," adding that the proposal could add as much as £600 to a family trip to Europe and, in his view, up to £1,600 to a New York holiday — a higher figure than the CCC's own New York example. Airlines UK stresses that the industry is already investing in new aircraft, SAF and airspace upgrades.
Tania Kumar of the Confederation of British Industry urged policymakers to avoid a false choice between growth and decarbonisation, calling instead for faster airspace reform, scaling SAF production and commercialising carbon removal technologies. Heathrow said passengers already contribute significant carbon-related charges and argued a growing aviation sector can deliver substantial economic and social value.
Projected Impact On Emissions
The CCC set out how its package of measures would split contributions toward meeting UK net zero by 2050:
- Demand Reduction (passing on costs to travellers): 24%
- Efficiency Improvements: 20%
- Switching To SAF: 20%
- Engineered Removals (e.g., carbon capture): 36%
The committee warned that, as other sectors decarbonise, aviation could represent "almost all" of the UK's residual emissions by 2050 if stronger action is not taken. It also highlighted that emissions associated with an estimated £49bn Heathrow expansion would be substantial relative to other sectors.
Next Steps
The CCC said ministers invited it to advise on the draft blueprint for Heathrow's expansion and that fare increases should be enshrined in law before any approval is granted. The proposal is likely to spark further debate among ministers, industry representatives and campaigners as the Government weighs economic, social and environmental trade-offs.
Help us improve.
