AIRLINE BOSS SEEKS BUSINESS CLASS BAN

THE head of low-cost carrier Wizz Air, József Váradi, has suggested it would be more effective to get rid of business class than to impose ‘green taxes’ on flights as the airline industry tackles its contribution to carbon emissions.

Speaking at World Travel Market in November, Váradi hit out at the French and Dutch governments for their plans to introduce environmental taxes, claiming it would only help sustain underperforming national airlines such as Air France/klm.

“Business class should be banned. These passengers account for twice the carbon footprint of an economy passenger, and the industry is guilty of preserving an inefficient and archaic model,” says Váradi. “A rethink is long overdue, and we call on fellow airlines to commit to a total ban on business class travel for any flight under five hours.”