Moving on: why flying less means more for

business

Jean Leston,

Transport Policy, WWF-UK

“The strength of London’s economy depends on its success as a world city and, for many business sectors, that means being able to fly to meet their customers, peers and suppliers. They need to fly.”

Baroness Valentine, Chief Executive, London First

But business doesn’t NEED to fly!

What you might want

vs

What you actually need

Other reasons for flying…

• Bragging rights

• Status

• Break from the office

• Escape from family duties

WWF’s Moving On research

• Discover how recession affecting business travel in FTSE 500 companies

• Understand future travel intentions, especially flying

• Provide data that can be used to fight back on ‘business needs expansion’

Key findings

• 86% of companies reducing carbon footprint from business travel

• 47% have reduced their business flights in last 2 years• 63% of companies have a policy to reduce business

flights• Much greater use of conferencing technologies• 85% do not expect to return to pre-recession levels of

flying• 92% agree it is possible to fly less and remain both

profitable and competitive

Changes to business travel (in last 2 years)

Alternatives to flying

Benefits of changing travel and meeting practices

What WWF thinks the findings mean

• Conferencing technologies now mainstream• Evidence of permanent change, BAU flying won’t

return• Domestic/short haul flights most easily replaced• Supports better not bigger airports• Government needs to:

– Roll out high speed broadband– Improve rail network– Reduce cost of rail travel vs air– Offer tax incentives to business

One in Five Challenge

• 20% cut in flying over five years• Includes leading companies: M&S, Lloyds

Bank, Balfour Beatty, BSkyB, Vodafone, Microsoft, BT

• In first year, on average members achieved– 5,500 fewer flights– £1 million in avoided costs– 1,000 tonnes CO2 savings

wwf.org.uk/movingon

wwf.org.uk/oneinfive