The insiders changing how we think about flying
BBC Travel examines how aviation insiders are reshaping views on flying as a climate problem, highlighting that aviation contributes around 2.5% of global CO2 and that a tiny minority of travellers produce most emissions. It profiles former pilots and engineers who left or refocused careers after witnessing impacts—Todd Smith, who saw [[Rainbow Mountain]] in [[Peru]] and co-founded [[Safe Landing]]; Katie Thompson, formerly of [[NetJets]], who created [[Bumprints]]; and Finlay Asher, an ex-[[Rolls-Royce]] engineer—each urging measures from contrail avoidance and short-haul electric aircraft to fair levies. The piece outlines a new [[Premium Flyers Solidarity Coalition]] proposal to tax luxury fliers, notes debates at [[COP30]], and stresses behaviour change and policy tools as complementary routes to cut aviation’s warming impact. It also flags stark inequality — 1% of people cause over half of aviation emissions, and private jets have surged since the pandemic.