Latest news with #KLM
NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
The Green Guide To Travel: 12 Eco-Friendly Travel Tips Every Traveller Should Know
Going on holiday doesn't mean you have to ditch your eco-friendly habits. Travel can have a big environmental impact — from flight emissions to hotel energy use — but a few smart choices can make a big difference. Whether you're heading to Cornwall for a coastal break or jetting off to Thailand, sustainable travel is within reach. By packing lighter, choosing greener transport, and supporting local businesses, you can reduce your footprint while still enjoying the trip. These 12 eco-friendly travel tips will help you tread more lightly on the planet without sacrificing comfort, convenience, or fun along the way. Here Are 12 Eco-Friendly Travel Tips You Must Know: 1. Fly Smarter, Not More Often Let's not sugar-coat it: Air travel is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions in the tourism industry. One long-haul return flight can emit as much CO2 as the average person in some countries produces in a whole year. When you do fly, choose non-stop flights where possible — take-offs and landings use the most fuel. Airlines like KLM and British Airways now offer carbon offsetting programmes, so consider ticking that box at checkout (though it's not a perfect solution). 2. Choose Eco-Conscious Accommodation Many hotels talk a big game about sustainability, but look for real certifications. Trustworthy labels include Green Key, EarthCheck, and LEED. Bonus points if the accommodation uses renewable energy, has water-saving features, and supports local communities. 3. Travel By Train When You Can In Europe and the UK, trains are often faster and far greener than flying. According to the European Environment Agency, train travel emits around 80% less CO2 than flying. Sleeper trains across Europe (like the Nightjet) are making a comeback, too, offering a romantic and planet-friendly way to travel. Not to forget, coach or train journeys are always so scenic! 4. Don't Treat The Hotel Like Home Just because you're not paying for the utilities doesn't mean they're free. Turn off lights, air conditioning, and electronics when you leave your room. Reuse towels and bedding rather than requesting fresh ones daily. It sounds small, but the energy savings add up. 5. Go Paperless When You Can Most boarding passes, travel itineraries, museum tickets, and maps can live on your phone these days. Going digital reduces unnecessary waste and makes it harder to lose something important mid-journey. 6. Pack Light And Right Less weight means less fuel, especially when flying. Cut down on luggage by packing versatile pieces and avoiding unnecessary extras. Bring your own reusable essentials — water bottle, coffee cup, cutlery, tote bags, and solid toiletries-to reduce waste on the road. 7. Respect Nature Like A Local Would Stick to marked trails, never feed wildlife, and definitely don't pocket souvenirs like shells or rocks from protected areas. In many destinations, even sunscreen can damage ecosystems — choose reef-safe versions that don't contain harmful chemicals like oxybenzone. 8. Say No To Single-Use Plastics Countries like Rwanda and Kenya have banned plastic bags altogether, and many others are cracking down. Bring your own tote bags and reusable containers to avoid getting caught out — or fined. Bonus: It's cheaper and more stylish than a flimsy supermarket bag. 9. Eat Like A Local (And Seasonal) Supporting local food markets and restaurants that source ingredients from nearby farms helps cut the carbon cost of long supply chains. Plant-based diets are generally much lower in emissions, so opting for veggie dishes — even just part of the time — makes a real difference. 10. Use Public Transport Or Walk It's not only better for the planet but also a great way to soak up the vibe of a place. Cities like Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Lisbon have efficient, low-emission public transport systems. Apps like Citymapper or Rome2Rio can help you navigate like a pro. 11. Support Local Businesses Sustainable travel isn't just about nature — it's about people too. Choose independent tour operators, artisans, and eateries that give back to their communities rather than global chains. You'll get a more authentic experience and help keep money circulating locally. 12. Offset — But Don't Rely on It Carbon offsetting isn't a golden ticket to guilt-free travel, but it can help. Projects like tree planting or renewable energy development can make a difference when properly managed. Stick with verified schemes through Gold Standard or Cool Effect. You don't have to overhaul your entire travel style overnight. Start with small changes. Choose one or two tips to try on your next trip. Sustainability isn't about perfection — it's about progress. And the more of us who care enough to try, the bigger the impact we make. After all, the planet is the most beautiful destination there is — so let's treat it like one worth visiting again and again.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Facing a pilot shortage, Swiss cancels flights. Is this a sign of a wider European trend?
Travellers heading to or through Switzerland this summer may find themselves unexpectedly grounded. The country's national airline, Swiss, has confirmed it will cancel around 1,400 flights from now through October as it confronts an ongoing shortage of pilots. The cuts will affect multiple short-haul routes from Zurich and Geneva, including flights across Europe. Some long-haul services, such as those to Shanghai and Chicago, will also operate less frequently. And some routes, including its summer service to Hurghada in Egypt, have been suspended entirely. Swiss says it 'deeply regrets' the situation and has introduced a range of short-term fixes to address its pilot shortage. Those include a voluntary retirement deferral program, a vacation buyback scheme and encouraging part-time pilots to increase hours. The airline is also working with its pilot union, Aeropers, to improve roster flexibility and reduce last-minute, fatigue-related absences – all measures meant to help the national carrier alleviate its need for about 70 more full-time pilots. Related Booking your 2025 holiday? You could save up to 17% on flights to these destinations this summer Toronto plane crash is 2025's latest: Is flying still the safest form of transport? Swiss has promised to notify passengers of changes as early as possible. Affected travellers will be rebooked on flights with Swiss, the Lufthansa Group, other carriers in the Star Alliance network or – in the worst-case scenario – any other available airline. Passengers can also rebook or request a full refund. Swiss is not the only airline facing turbulence. Carriers across Europe are trimming schedules and forming contingency plans to cope with a mounting shortage of cockpit crew. KLM has publicly acknowledged difficulties staffing long-haul flights this summer, even though it claims to have more pilots than ever on its roster. 'Sick leave and part-time work have increased in recent years. We lose around 50 full-time jobs a year due to all the part-time work,' Eimerd Bult, head of KLM's flight service, said last September, as reported by Dutch newspaper the Telegraaf. Air France pilots are temporarily operating KLM flights on certain routes, including Amsterdam to New York, from July until October this year. British Airways and easyJet, meanwhile, are aggressively recruiting new staff, battling one another with competitive perks to poach from their rivals and lure back retired pilots. British Airways, for example, has offered to foot the bill for pilot training – which can cost as much as €100,000 – for up to 60 prospects per year. This comes after the airline suspended several short-haul routes this summer, including flights from London Gatwick to Santorini and Mykonos, and select routes from Heathrow to Greece and Croatia. The pandemic paused new pilot training and accelerated retirements, a one-two punch the industry has yet to recover from. In the US alone, the FAA projects about 4,300 pilot retirements each year through 2042. Europe faces a similar crunch. Although some airlines previously had long waiting lists for pilot slots, today they're easing language and nationality requirements to widen the pool. Related European budget airlines' hand luggage fees 'violate EU laws', say consumer organisations Türkiye to fine passengers who stand up before the seatbelt sign is switched off on planes The problem isn't just retirement, though. It's the pipeline. Boeing's long-term outlook estimates that the world will need 674,000 new pilots over the next two decades. By 2032, consulting firm Oliver Wyman says the sector could lack nearly 80,000 pilots globally. Europe alone could be 19,000 pilots short of demand. Travellers with short-haul bookings, especially those involving connections, should brace for disruption as European carriers thin their summer schedules. Experts caution that these tighter schedules may result in fewer direct flights, longer layovers and more competition for seats. Travellers are advised to book early, allow extra time for transfers and monitor airline notifications closely. Though rebooking and refund policies are in place, securing the best alternative could come down to how fast you move.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
Swiss trims summer schedule as pilot crisis spreads across Europe
Travellers heading to or through Switzerland this summer may find themselves unexpectedly grounded. The country's national airline, Swiss, has confirmed it will cancel around 1,400 flights from now through October as it confronts an ongoing shortage of pilots. The cuts will affect multiple short-haul routes from Zurich and Geneva, including flights across Europe. Some long-haul services, such as those to Shanghai and Chicago, will also operate less frequently. And some routes, including its summer service to Hurghada in Egypt, have been suspended entirely. Swiss says it 'deeply regrets' the situation and has introduced a range of short-term fixes to address its pilot shortage. Those include a voluntary retirement deferral program, a vacation buyback scheme and encouraging part-time pilots to increase hours. The airline is also working with its pilot union, Aeropers, to improve roster flexibility and reduce last-minute, fatigue-related absences – all measures meant to help the national carrier alleviate its need for about 70 more full-time pilots. Swiss has promised to notify passengers of changes as early as possible. Affected travellers will be rebooked on flights with Swiss, the Lufthansa Group, other carriers in the Star Alliance network or – in the worst-case scenario – any other available airline. Passengers can also rebook or request a full refund. Swiss is not the only airline facing turbulence. Carriers across Europe are trimming schedules and forming contingency plans to cope with a mounting shortage of cockpit crew. KLM has publicly acknowledged difficulties staffing long-haul flights this summer, even though it claims to have more pilots than ever on its roster. 'Sick leave and part-time work have increased in recent years. We lose around 50 full-time jobs a year due to all the part-time work,' Eimerd Bult, head of KLM's flight service, said last September, as reported by Dutch newspaper the Telegraaf. Air France pilots are temporarily operating KLM flights on certain routes, including Amsterdam to New York, from July until October this year. British Airways and easyJet, meanwhile, are aggressively recruiting new staff, battling one another with competitive perks to poach from their rivals and lure back retired pilots. British Airways, for example, has offered to foot the bill for pilot training – which can cost as much as €100,000 – for up to 60 prospects per year. This comes after the airline suspended several short-haul routes this summer, including flights from London Gatwick to Santorini and Mykonos, and select routes from Heathrow to Greece and Croatia. The pandemic paused new pilot training and accelerated retirements, a one-two punch the industry has yet to recover from. In the US alone, the FAA projects about 4,300 pilot retirements each year through 2042. Europe faces a similar crunch. Although some airlines previously had long waiting lists for pilot slots, today they're easing language and nationality requirements to widen the pool. The problem isn't just retirement, though. It's the pipeline. Boeing's long-term outlook estimates that the world will need 674,000 new pilots over the next two decades. By 2032, consulting firm Oliver Wyman says the sector could lack nearly 80,000 pilots globally. Europe alone could be 19,000 pilots short of demand. Travellers with short-haul bookings, especially those involving connections, should brace for disruption as European carriers thin their summer schedules. Experts caution that these tighter schedules may result in fewer direct flights, longer layovers and more competition for seats. Travellers are advised to book early, allow extra time for transfers and monitor airline notifications closely. Though rebooking and refund policies are in place, securing the best alternative could come down to how fast you move.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
IndiGo names ex-Shell India chief Mehta as chairman, onboards KLM's Dortmans
IndiGo on Wednesday announced the appointment of Vikram Singh Mehta as the Chairman of the Board as well as KLM's top engineering executive Ton Dortmans to support the induction of Airbus A350s that would join the fleet from 2027 apart from building the airline's maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) strategy. Mr. Mehta succeeds Venkataramani Sumantran who stepped down from the post after completion of his five-year term as a board member. Mr. Mehta has been a Member of the Board of InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo) since May 2022. He is the Chairman of the public policy think tank 'Centre for Social and Economic Progress', and former Executive Chairman of Brookings India and Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution. He has also helmed the Shell Group of Companies in India as Chairman. Ton Dortmans, KLM's Executive Vice President Engineering & Maintenance, will join IndiGo in mid-August after retiring from the Dutch airline this summer upon turning 60. At KLM, he served for 40 years and also oversaw the induction of the 'jumbo jets' or the Boeing 747-400 aircraft.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
IndiGo says Ton Dortmans to support tech entry of A350 planes, help build overall MRO capabilities
Synopsis IndiGo is preparing for the arrival of its A350 aircraft in 2027 by appointing Ton Dortmans to bolster its MRO strategy. With over 400 aircraft and 900 more on order, IndiGo aims to expand its in-house MRO capabilities, including its second hangar in Bengaluru. Dortmans, formerly with KLM, will report to IndiGo's COO and work with SVP Engineering.
