Ryanair criticised for plan to take on Eurostar with Brussels flights

Ryanair came in for renewed criticism from environmental campaigners yesterday after it launched a route in direct competition with Eurostar.

Europe’s largest low-cost carrier reopened its Stansted to Brussels service yesterday, taking on the cross-channel train operator, whose passengers generate a tenth as much carbon dioxide per journey as plane travellers.

Greenpeace accused the airline of encouraging “binge flying” by targeting a route where trains have captured two-thirds of the market. “If we don’t look at alternative forms of transport, then we will need new runways at Heathrow and Stansted because the capacity is being taken up by these unnecessary flights,” said John Sauven, a Greenpeace director.

Guardian