Until airlines tackle the scourge of ‘ghost flights’, Britain will never reach net zero

‘We need to reduce emissions from air travel fast, – and that can only mean fewer flights.’ A plane lands on the southern runway at London Heathrow airport. Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

I was once the only passenger on a four-hour “ghost flight” across Europe. I loved it – the exclusivity, the speed, even the meals. But that was 45 years ago, when flying was quite rare and seemed glamorous. The idea that air travel might one day threaten future generations seemed very far-fetched.

But the facts change. Travel is now a global commodity, and aviation is the world’s fastest growing major source of climate breakdown emissions. Flying empty or near-empty planes around just to hold on to landing slots at airports now seems close to “ecocide” – an act of deliberate destruction of the environment. A staggering 15,000 ghost flights flew from UK airports between March 2020 and September 2021.