Green Air Travel: Its Market and Regulations

Air travel contributes to the persistent increase in carbon emissions driving climate change. This master’s thesis analyzes the potential framework for carbon taxes on flight tickets in Switzerland against the backdrop of existing aviation industry regulations, proposed solutions, and various efforts to improve environmental outcomes. The author draws on extensive expert interviews. Key considerations include how airlines could implement the tax, the foreseeable impact on the industry, and the timeline, given the effects of COVID-19 on air travel and society. The importance of global solutions is underscored, since the unilateral implementation of a steep ticket tax would yield neither ecological nor economic success. Instead, Switzerland should create incentives for new aircraft technologies and Sustainable Aviation Fuels as well as supporting efficient alternative means of transportation.