Gen Z travellers are outpacing baby boomers in taking to the skies, despite repeatedly naming climate change as their top concern.
According to the latest annual Aviation Consumer Survey from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), almost three quarters of Britons aged 18 to 34 flew at least once in the past 12 months, compared with roughly half of over-55s.
The same research reveals that two fifths of under-35s plan to increase their flying next year – nearly double the proportion of older travellers – even though survey after survey claims that climate worries weigh heavily on Gen Z’s minds.
While younger respondents are more likely to report caring about sustainability, they are also significantly more cost-sensitive than older fliers. Rising fares deter them far more than environmental issues do. Among those who chose not to travel by air recently, 38% blamed the expense, with just 7% citing green considerations – fewer than the number expressing a fear of flying.
Environmental concerns do appear in their thinking: the CAA notes that Gen Z “are more likely to claim that environmental concerns influence their behaviour.” Yet the majority simultaneously believe government funds, rather than air ticket surcharges, should foot the bill for reducing the climate impact of air travel.
In contrast, more than a third of older people told the CAA they would accept higher ticket prices to cover environmental costs. Boomers, however, are less confident than Gen Z that the aviation industry will keep its promises on going greener. Nearly 60% of younger travellers trust aviation’s ability to cut its carbon footprint, compared with under half of older respondents.
Although the proportion of those offsetting their flights’ emissions remains small—fewer than three in 20 travellers—the majority who do so are prompted by airline or travel website prompts rather than taking the initiative themselves.
The data also suggest younger travellers may be making up for time lost to pandemic travel bans. Before Covid, the CAA points out, the proportion of people flying was relatively consistent across age groups. Now, 18–34-year-olds have surged back into the skies, while over-55s have shown more caution, possibly due to cost concerns, shifting priorities, or continued wariness following disruptions.
Even persistent delays and higher fares have not dented air travel satisfaction. The CAA found 80% of travellers gave positive feedback on flying in the past year, markedly higher than the 60% approval for trains and buses.