How to Book a Lower Carbon Flight

Our core values are underpinned by our belief that travel can be a force for good. It has the potential to bring economic benefits to small communities, support local businesses, and, when done right, act as a driving force for boosting biodiversity and supporting habitats.

However, we recognise that the flights required to reach our destinations come at an environmental cost, with air travel likely to account for the majority of your holiday’s carbon footprint.

But here’s something you may not know: not all flights between the same origin and destination have the same carbon footprint. In some cases, emissions can differ by as much as double, depending on factors like flight routes and aircraft type.

That’s why we’ve put together this simple guide to help you book the most carbon-efficient flight possible. With just a few small changes to how you plan your journey, you can significantly reduce your travel impact while enjoying the incredible experiences that travel has to offer.

Use a flight search engine that displays the CO2e of your flight

There are many reasons why one flight may have a lower carbon footprint than another, but this often comes down to the age and type of aircraft. It can be difficult and time-consuming to research this yourself, but fortunately, there are now flight search engines that do the hard work for you. A great example is Google Flights which not only lists the CO2e generated per flight but also provides handy comparisons to help you understand the impact.

Book a flight with fewer stops

Take-offs and landings use a considerable amount of fuel—sometimes up to 25% of a flight’s overall emissions. The more direct a flight is, the less distance is travelled overall. Whenever possible, look for direct flights or options with fewer connections.

Travel economy

First and business class seats take up significantly more space on a plane than economy seats, meaning they occupy a larger share of the plane's carbon footprint. Flying economy reduces the demand for business class seats and helps keep your footprint lower.

Avoid night flights

The contrails (vapour trails left behind by aeroplanes) generated at night have a greater warming effect compared to those created during the day. While this is not directly related to the amount of carbon released, flying during the day reduces the overall environmental impact of your journey. Although this might not always be feasible for long-haul flights, it’s worth considering for short and medium-haul trips.

Travel light

The heavier an aircraft, the greater its fuel consumption. While reducing your luggage might not drastically affect an aircraft's total weight, every little bit helps. For example, many of your toiletries can be sourced locally, as most accommodations provide the basics, and shopping in the Nordics is both convenient and hassle-free. Additionally, many of our excursion partners provide suitable clothing and equipment for winter activities, so you can often avoid packing these items.

Offset your flight

We firmly believe that avoiding emissions is better than offsetting them, which is why our Climate Action Plan focuses primarily on emission reductions. However, contributing to verified offsetting schemes is a positive step for addressing emissions from flights that cannot be avoided.

Please note that the emissions from your tour on the ground have already been fully offset by us.

For further information on sustainable travel, please see our Sustainable Tourism page, including our Tips for Travellers section.