The Carbon Consultancy claims to have launched the first flight search tool that will allow customers to take carbon efficiency into account when choosing a flight.
In partnership with meta search specialists Global Travel Market and FlySmart.org, it has launched a web-based tool called Carbon Friendly Flight Search.
The tool allows travellers to search for information on the best price, agents, airlines, and carbon rankings for airlines based upon fleet efficiency.
It also discriminates between direct and indirect flight options and shows travellers the relationship between price and carbon efficiency.
The carbon emissions data is based upon the same principle as emissions bands used in the licensing of UK cars.
It combines the fleets of major airlines with aircraft fuel consumption data from the EMEP/CORINAIR database, which is used by DEFRA to support its aviation emissions reporting guidelines.
The tool is available to companies as a white label widget, without charge.
Carbon Consultancy CEO Hugo Kimber said: “Consumers are very interested in tools that enable them to make informed choices to help reduce their impact from travel, as opposed to being invited to just offset emissions.
“The Carbon Friendly Flight Search supports the need for us to balance the very real benefits of aviation with its environmental impact and educating travellers is a key part of achieving this balance.
“The new tool supports our existing work on travel industry engagement with environmental impact management and we look forward to further developing the sophistication of this approach.â€
By Bev Fearis
