Environmental group Greenpeace is encouraging air travellers to boycott a new service from British Airways by offering free rail tickets instead for those booked on its first flight .
The act against BA comes as the airline prepares to launch its London to Cornwall service, beginning on Tuesday.
Greenpeace is offering all passengers booked on the first return flight the chance to swap their air ticket for a free train ticket, with Monday’s national newspapers advertising on how to make the switch.
A spokesman for the group said, "We hope people who are booked on the flight will think seriously about ripping up their BA ticket and taking up Greenpeace’s offer instead."
"We really have to do something about this culture of binge-flying that British Airways is doing so much to bring about," he added.
The issue of air travel has been the cause of heated debates and discussions of late with environmentalists arguing that travelling by plane causes ten times more damage to the climate, through carbon emissions, than rail travel .
BA released a statement defending its new service, which read, "We are providing travel for those people who want to get between Gatwick and Cornwall in one hour. The train from (London) Paddington to Newquay takes approximately five hours."
"As an airline, we have made enormous efforts to address our impact on climate change . We have improved our fuel efficiency by 27 per cent since 1990."
"We are the only airline in the world currently undertaking emissions trading and have lobbied for many years for aviation to be included in the EU emissions trading scheme," it concluded.
 |
 |
|
|
BA Criticised By Greenpeace Over New Service Mon, 19 Mar 2007      Recommended linksMake your travel plans by using Travelagents.co.ukTips on searching for a holiday Guide to staying safe abroad Search for low cost air tickets Find cheap travel insurance deals BA Reduces Fares On Middle East Routes BAA Announces Increase In Passengers Using UK Airports |
||
 |
 |
| Travel news |
|---|
| Brits To Book More Holidays To Non-Eurozone Countries In 2009 - Mon, 05 Jan 2009 |
| Brits Content With Domestic Trips This Christmas - Wed, 24 Dec 2008 |
| Half-Price Discounts On Offer At Luxury Resorts - Tue, 23 Dec 2008 |
| More News |