Aviation industry to counter flight shaming movement: IATA chief

The aviation industry is to launch a campaign it hopes will counter a ‘flight shaming’ movement that has weakened demand for air travel in Europe where some travellers are increasingly concerned about their environmental impact. The industry’s image has been damaged this year by a growing Swedish-born movement led by activists such as teenager Greta Thunberg calling for greater action against climate change, including ditching air travel. Global lobby IATA, which represents nearly 300 airlines, is coordinating the campaign which will involve industry stakeholders. “We will launch a very, very big campaign ... to explain what we have done, what we are doing, and what we intend to do in the future,” IATA’s head Alexandre de Juniac said Tuesday. The campaign will try to explain to the public how the industry is reducing its environmental impact, countering what de Juniac said had been “misleading information.” IATA is coordinating the plan through the Air Transport Action Group, a coalition of industry organisations and companies. De Juniac did not say when the campaign would launch but said it would be available to stakeholders across the industry including airports and airlines.<br/>