“Electric and hybrid flights are a core part of the solution to making short-haul travel more sustainable, and less dependent on imported jet fuel.”
“Electric and hybrid flights are a core part of the solution to making short-haul travel more sustainable, and less dependent on imported jet fuel.”
The counterpoint to this is already stated in the article; the main benefit is on routes where rail does not currently exist, or where a rail link will likely never exist (think crossing mountains or bodies of water).
The article does not mention mountains. Mountains are often more suited to trains than planes, cf. Switzerland.
The article does quote Anna Hughes of Flight Free UK, who echoes my sentiments: “The reality of decarbonising travel will inevitably be travelling a lot less, investing heavily in rail, and only then electrifying the flights that remain.”
France’s short-haul flight ban is excellent and more countries should adopt it.
As for “counterpoint”, no-one here disagrees with decarbonising island routes rail can’t serve. Still, I’d favour sail or electric fast ferries over aircraft where possible.