ASSESSING WHETHER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IS A CRITERION OF CONSUMERS WHEN SELECTING AN AIRLINE.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to gain insight as to whether environmental impact is a criterion of consumers when actually selecting an airline. Findings indicate that cost and convenience, followed by destinations on offer and departure airports, are the key criteria for consumers in airline ticket purchasing decisions. Airlines may continue environmental activity and disclosure for long-term strategic reasons although individual ticket purchase decisions do not appear to be based primarily on environmental considerations. The research fills a gap in the U.K. empirical literature by exploring whether consumers of airlines operating out of the U.K. consider environmental impacts when making actual ticket purchase decisions.