Greenpeace research compared 142 routes across 31 European countries and found flights cheaper than trains on 54 percent of 109 cross-border routes. Low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, Wizz Air, Vueling and EasyJet offer very low fares. Campaigners attribute the disparity to untaxed aviation fuel, international flight tickets exempt from VAT, and political inaction that advantages airlines. Rail operators often face full VAT, rising energy costs and high track access charges. An example cited shows a Barcelona–London flight costing as little as 15 while a train costs around 389, and the study excluded common air-travel hidden fees.
Environmental campaign group Greenpeace has slammed the fact that budget flights between destinations in Europe are still often significantly cheaper than travelling by train. With wildfires, heatwaves and droughts getting worse in Europe, many people want to make more climate-friendly choices, including when it comes to travel. But new research by Greenpeace suggests that customers are not getting a fair deal because taking the train between destinations in Europe is often far pricier than a budget flight. In an analysis of 142 routes across 31 European countries, Greenpeace found that flights are cheaper than trains on 54 percent of 109 cross-border routes.
The environmental organisation said that low-cost airlines had the upper hand due to unfair pricing. They called out "political inaction that lets airlines undercut rail at the planet's expense". Herwig Schuster, transport campaigner for Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, said: "Even as the climate crisis worsens, Europe's tax system continues to favour the most polluting way to travel." Schuster cited one example of a flight from Barcelona to London that can cost as little as 15, while a train on the same route (costing around 389) "is up to 26 times more expensive".
Passengers can buy cheap tickets from low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, Wizz Air, Vueling and EasyJet. Campaigners say the prices are so low because of factors like untaxed aviation fuels and international flight tickets being exempt from VAT. "Meanwhile, rail operators often pay full VAT, rising energy costs and high track access charges," said Greenpeace. The study did not, however, bring in the added hidden costs that often arise with air travel such as baggage and check-in fees or travel to the airport.
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