With pressure on the aviation industry increasing to reduce its carbon footprint, KLM has started purchasing train tickets for passengers to encourage them to fly less.
In addressing the environmental impact of air travel, the airline launched its Fly Responsibly campaign in 2019. It piloted its train ticket scheme last year, replacing one of its four daily flights to Brussels with a train service, reports Business Insider.
Earlier this year, KLM announced it would build on its air-rail service by securing seats on Thalys high-speed train services. Now, by buying travellers their train tickets, it is ensuring that fewer people fly between Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and Brussels.
According to US political website Politico, not only are airlines under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint, but KLM also faces additional challenges of capacity restrictions at Schiphol Airport, as well as the Dutch government’s attempts to reduce noise pollution by limiting takeoffs and landings. This has led to the airline potentially removing its shorter flights, to be replaced with rail routes.
KLM CEO Marjan Rintel said: "If there are connections, if the connections are good, if they arrive at Schiphol, if they run also on the weekends, we are more than willing to stop flying to Brussels. We are moving our customers from plane to train."
Travellers can make the 200km journey between Schiphol Airport and Brussels in an hour and 40 minutes by high-speed train, compared to a 55-minute flight.
