‘Grab the plane to go on holiday … that is not an individual choice’

‘There are few people who fly because they like to be on the plane. They do it because flying is part of a vacation, « says lawyer Yannick van den Berg. » That’s how it is with a lot of what we do. Consumption is not a real individual choice, it is part of the activities we undergo in our lives and the social context that goes with it. « 

Van den Berg started his PhD research with the broad question of how rules influence sustainable consumption. Behavioral scientists are also promoted, but there is also a legal side that fits in with Van den Berg’s background in European consumer law. “Flying is an interesting case study, because everyone knows that it has to be less. Since the 90s it has been about it. Yet the Co is₂-Moeding that is accompanied by flying rises enormously. How is that possible? ” On 26 June he will be promoted at the University of Amsterdam.

Consumer law usually views consumers as an economic individual that makes rational choices. « Then it makes sense to increase prices to make people fly less, » says Van den Berg. “But you can also look through a different lens, as I started doing when I read more about the Social Practice Theory. Then you don’t see flies as a loose thing, but something that is intertwined with all kinds of other everyday activities. Why do we actually see flying as part of vacation? What is needed to change that? ”

Forbidding is not possible

We live in a free society. Forbidding flying is not possible and it would also be counterproductive, Van den Berg thinks. « But it can be tackled like tobacco. Smoking was also said that it is an individual choice. But that choice does cause damage. Health damage in the case of smoking, co is done₂-Moet and noise nuisance in the case of flying.  »

Some municipalities now prohibit advertisements for flying holidays. When The Hague was the first to go to court, travelers’ organization ANVR and TUI. « They found it a violation of their right to freedom of expression, » says Van den Berg. « The question is whether commercial expressions should be legally protected in the same way as an opinion of you or me. In the interest of society you can set rules, the judge also found. »

The European Union has done little to prevent flies, says Van den Berg. « A lot of regulations are based on growing industry. Take the discussion about tax -free kerosene. Looking to a treaty from 1944 stating that the signatories do not levy tax on fuel of incoming flights. That has become: we do not levy any tax on kerosine.

Sustainability is being sought in technology for the time being: better aircraft, sustainable fuels. In addition, the individual consumer is looked at. Who through the glasses of Social Practice Looks, as Van den Berg did, see other options.

« In the last part of my dissertation I looked at how we can get the flying out of vacation. It makes sense to know how vacation developed. It started when factory workers had to rest in order not to fall. There was one Grand Tour For young people from the highest classes, that was a formation thing, and there were pilgrimages for meaning. Holiday is still linked to peace and meaning, but now people are going to Bali for a retreat. ”

An important reason that flying is now part of vacation is the rise of the package trip with flight, local transport and stay, Van den Berg saw. « That grew up in the 60s and 70s. That has everything to do with the legal developments. In the first instance it was agreed that only state companies were allowed to fly in line services between countries. The only way to get around there was by flying as a group on a ‘charter flight’, so that was promoted. This is how commercial airlines arrived. » The fact that flying is now so cheap, for a few tens to many destinations in Europe, has to do with the liberalization of the aviation industry. « That was a successful EU project, which caused a lot of competition. »

Promotion of EU as a holiday destination

Policy frameworks, which are largely legal frameworks, therefore matter. « Advertising flight holidays can be limited. We as an EU also spend a lot of money on promotion of the EU as a holiday destination. There has just been a successful campaign in China. I understand that that is good for the economy, but is that sustainable policy? You can wonder if we need intercontinental flights for vacation at all. »

It is not just about denying people things, it is about policy that changes the image of vacation. Suppose you want to go to Bali for a spiritual retreat, can you find what you are looking for there too? « It is not up to the EU to become a travel organizer, » says Van den Berg. « But there is a range of policy choices around it. Everyone says they want to make train journeys cheaper and easier. In practice, international train connections have disappeared instead of being added in recent decades. Meanwhile, there is talk about extending the North-South line in Amsterdam to Schiphol. Where does that lead? Flying more easily! »

One of the results of Van den Berg’s research is that the EU must be fair as a sustainable policy maker and regulator. “The policy is still aimed at growth in the air sector. That does not fit that other policy goal of Netto Nul Co₂-Ill.. It can’t be one. « 

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