Why can a short-haul flight be ill-advised?

Many people use short-haul flights to enjoy holidays at home or conduct business efficiently, making them a popular service for those who cannot afford the time of travelling by car. These flights are often very cheap, encouraging more and more people to take short haul trips every year.

However, there are those who may believe quick aviation journeys are a completely bad idea – environmentalists - who argue that the amount of CO2 emmitted on take off and landing is a serious issue.

These people argue that the carbon emissions caused by short-haul flights are unacceptable, especially when the effects of climate change are so high on the agenda.

An aeroplane uses the most fuel during take off and landing and, because of the frequent nature of short-haul flights, more damage will be done to the environment.

Although using an aircraft can be unavoidable for long-haul routes, where a boat or a combination of transport would take many hours or days longer, green-minded individuals argue there are many other options for those who choose domestic flights.

However it can be difficult for those with business meetings to choose car or train over air travel, as the advantages of short travelling times and easy baggage handling far outweigh those of a 15 hour car journey.

People who still choose to fly short-haul could consider purchasing carbon credits to offset their emissions. Firms that offer this service use the money spent to plant trees or invest in sustainability projects – thus negating the bad with good. Many of these companies work in Brazil, planting new trees in the Amazon rainforest where deforestation on a massive scale is taking place.

Scientists believe the Amazon accounts for 20% of the Earth's oxygen production, so the money earned from purchasing carbon credits certainly goes towards good causes.

Of course, there can be other reasons for avoiding short-haul routes.

Once an airport has been reached and security procedures have been completed at either end, it may have been quicker to have got behind the wheel or taken the train anyway.