Mobility: Sustainability First - Even If It Takes Longer
Sustainable decisions are increasingly playing a bigger role in everyday life. However, when it comes to travel, speed and comfort often take precedence. A representative YouGov survey commissioned by the travel booking platform Omio shows, however, that travelers are indeed willing to make compromises for the sake of the climate if it has a positive effect on the environment.
Travel longer for the benefit of the environment
The representative survey of 2,093 people in Germany found that consumers are quite willing to make compromises for the environment when traveling: More than one in three (39 percent) would accept up to 30 minutes longer travel time, more than one in five (23 percent) would accept up to 60 minutes longer travel time, and 12 percent would even travel up to 120 minutes longer to travel more sustainably.
Unsurprisingly, Generation Z is more environmentally conscious: 69 percent of respondents in this age group accept longer travel time for the sake of the environment, compared to just 56 percent of the general population. One in five (18 percent) would accept up to 120 minutes more travel time.
The top 3 routes are:
- Frankfurt am Main -> Cologne: Taking the train over a flight can save more than two hours and reduce CO2 emissions by 25 kilograms.
- Hanover -> Frankfurt am Main: The train is still 27 minutes faster here. The CO2 savings are also significant at nearly 33 kilograms.
- Stuttgart -> Paris: The train is only 15 minutes faster on this route, but it offers a CO2 saving of almost 74 kilograms. One can save more only on the Cologne -> Hamburg route (195 kilograms), but that requires accepting an additional travel time of almost 60 minutes.
Speed, price, comfort
In general, respondents in Germany are quite willing to forgo flying. Nearly one in two (45 percent) say they would travel by train instead of by plane if the connection is faster. 42 percent prefer the train if the connection is more comfortable than flying. Price is also a significant factor in travel: 38 percent prefer the train if the ticket price is cheaper than flying.
Sustainability & Safety
Sustainability is also a reason for many to decide against flying – this was the response of every third person (34 percent). The issue of safety, such as in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, also motivates many (33 percent) to switch to the train. Compared to the train, fewer travelers are willing to choose the bus over the plane. However, one in five (22 percent) says they prefer the bus if the ticket is cheaper. Almost as many (20 percent) prefer to take the bus rather than fly if the connection is more comfortable.
Travel after the Pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic has influenced travel behavior across Europe: In Germany, almost one in four (24 percent) respondents said they would first check travel restrictions before booking. 18 percent stated they would undertake more domestic travel, and 15 percent would only travel once they are vaccinated. 9 percent now prefer to travel by train rather than by plane because they feel safer there. However, for one in five (20 percent), the pandemic has had no impact on their travel behavior. 17 percent plan to return to their old travel habits once infection rates have declined.
Generation Z, in particular, is most mindful of minimizing their environmental impact when traveling: 9 percent of study participants in Germany said they always consider the environment in their travel decisions; among 18- to 24-year-olds, it is 17 percent, and among 25- to 34-year-olds, it is 12 percent. Compared to the end of 2019, Generation Z today considers the climate even more: In the previous survey, only 13 percent said they always consider the environment when traveling.
Travelers in Europe
The European comparison looks similar: One in four says they are willing to add an extra 60 minutes to their total travel time if it positively impacts the environment. Eight percent of respondents say they would forgo flying, even if it means an additional two hours of travel. More than half of Europeans would choose the train or bus if it is the more sustainable option compared to flying.
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