The number of travellers looking for flights with a lower carbon rating has increased by 10%, according to a price comparison site.
Directflights.com said more of its users have been opting to search for the greenest option when comparing flights, using its Carbon Friendly Flight Search tool.
The online travel aggregator gives each airline a green rating according to a “fleet analysis”, done in partnership with the Carbon Consultancy.
Airlines are rated from 1 to 9, with a lower number achieving a greener rating.
To calculate the ratings, the Carbon Consultancy looks at the published long haul fleets for an airline, EU aircraft consumption data, and UK government fuel to emission conversion values.
For example, between New York and London, British Airways and Air France achieve a rating of 3.
Rob Stross, managing director of Directflights.com suggested that green issues had taken a backseat during the recession, but this trend is now reversing.
“The increased usage of the Carbon Friendly Flight Search demonstrates that whilst consumers are looking for a good deal, they do still care about the environment and are taking into account a flight’s carbon rating,” he said.
“This has to be a positive step and shows, that whilst price is important, the environmental impact is being considered.”
www.directflights.com www.thecarbonconsultancy.com