Opinion piece by Anna Hughes
Going flight-free might not sound like the most likely well-being resolution. Doesn’t a life without flying sound restrictive, sacrificial, and, well, boring?
But hear us out. At a time when we are all looking for ways to improve ourselves, going flight-free for a year might just be the best favour you ever did yourself.
First up: avoid airport stress. Let’s be honest, who really enjoys being in an airport? The destination might be exciting, but the rest of the experience is a bit… icky. Waiting for hours in a sterile environment, being marketed at for lots of expensive things you neither need nor can afford, being herded like cattle when it’s your turn, having to practically undress when it’s time to go through security… none of this makes for the most relaxing start to your holiday.
Compare that with a journey by train: it typically takes 8 minutes to get from one end of Eurostar check-in to the other, and that includes passport control and security. Yes, you must put your bags through the scanner, but you can keep your shoes (and your belt) firmly on. It’s less hectic, less chaotic, calmer. And there’s no mad dash to get to your gate in time: the departure platform is literally above your head, one escalator away.
Second: the actual flight. Minimal room, flight attendants telling you when you can and can’t get up and move around, a cool view but not one you’d want to look at for hours. Being hurled through the air at huge speeds is actually really bad for us. You don’t have to go halfway around the world to get jet lag.
But train travel connects you with the world around you. The slow speed is better for our brains. It’s calmer, more relaxing. You have more control, more options. You can get up and wander around whenever you want, bring as much food and drink with you, book a table seat and catch up with all those emails you never have time to answer. The travel itself is enriching in a way that air travel just isn’t: it’s made for mixing with different people and cultures. Seeing the world go by outside the window gives a more genuine, more grounded travel experience.
And it’s not just you. So many other people will benefit if you cut the flights. Reports show that people living near airports are 20% more likely to suffer heart disease and stroke because of constant exposure to aircraft noise. These are often poor communities that don’t have the luxury of choosing where they live – and certainly don’t have the luxury of actually accessing that air travel that’s causing them so much harm. Air pollution levels around airports is high, too. Avoiding flying means fewer planes in the sky and a better quality of life for our neighbours.
If you’re a nature-lover, quitting flying for a year is a really positive move. Airports cause harm to animals, with runway lights and aeroplane noise disrupting circadian rhythms and the mating behaviour of insects and birds. If we continue to fly, airports will use that as a reason to expand – over 20 airports across the UK currently have expansion plans. The third runway at Heathrow will cover a large section of the Colne Valley, which is a vital habitat for UK wildlife. But if we buck the trend and reduce the amount we fly, the case for airport expansion falls apart. We need flight levels to reduce, not increase, to save wildlife.
And of course, it almost goes without saying that not flying for a year will significantly reduce your emissions. But we will say it anyway. Taking the train instead of flying saves 90% on your emissions. Avoiding just one transatlantic flight could save more CO2 than being vegan for a year. It not only benefits the planet, but it also helps to avoid contributing to the climate crisis. Taking this pledge gives you a sense of fulfilment as you live in a way that aligns with your values.
So, take the plunge, go flight-free in 2026, and do yourself a favour as well as the planet.
Author Bio:
Anna Hughes is the director of Flight Free UK, a charity that encourages people to travel without flying and runs the Flight Free Challenge: one year off flying to reduce emissions, break a habit and change the norm. Find out more at www.flightfree.co.uk and follow @FlightFreeUK.
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