Flight-intensive practices, where air travel is deeply embedded in social and professional routines, have become a hallmark of modern life, particularly for the global elite. However, the environmental toll of frequent flying is severe, contributing over 4% of total human-induced global warming. As net-zero emissions targets catalyze efforts to decarbonize transport, understanding the relationship between air travel and individual wellbeing is crucial. Reducing air travel demand will be necessary, but this must be achieved without significantly compromising quality of life.
Drawing on social practice theory and wellbeing perspectives, this article outlines a research framework to study the complex links between flight-intensive practices and subjective and objective measures of wellbeing. Through a non-systematic review of the social science literature, we find a mixed picture. Currently, flight-intensive practices fulfill important human needs, particularly in the family and social domains. Leisure air travel often enhances mood and life satisfaction, at least in the short-term. However, frequent flying also hinders wellbeing by increasing stress, health issues, and work-life strain.
Ultimately, our analysis suggests that policies to curb air travel demand may not substantially compromise wellbeing if accompanied by infrastructure and sociocultural changes that enable people to meet their needs through low-carbon transport, videoconferencing, or reduced overall travel. We identify key research gaps, such as understanding how the material, social, and cultural elements of flight-intensive practices interact with wellbeing, and how using alternatives to air travel for leisure and family visits impacts quality of life. Filling these gaps is crucial to designing emissions reduction policies that are both effective and socially feasible.
Defining Flight-Intensive Practices
Air travel is an extremely energy-intensive and unequal consumption practice, with the global elite responsible for the majority of emissions. Residents of Nordic welfare states, for example, rank among the top global emitters from aviation per capita. The luxury and disproportionate nature of these emissions, combined with the lack of viable technological solutions to make air travel emissions-free, means demand-side measures will be necessary for the sector to align with climate stabilization goals.
Flight-intensive practices encompass the myriad ways that air travel is deeply embedded in social and professional routines, from commuting and visiting friends/family abroad to networking in academia and participating in international sports competitions. Many of these practices are linked to wellbeing, making them resistant to change, particularly in the leisure domain.
Theories of Wellbeing
Wellbeing is a multifaceted concept, incorporating subjective assessments of life satisfaction, moods, and emotions, as well as objective indicators of basic need fulfillment, quality of relationships, and the extent to which socioeconomic conditions provide a good quality of life.
We draw on both subjective and objective wellbeing perspectives to explore the relationship between flight-intensive practices and individual welfare. From a subjective view, air travel could impact moods, emotions, and perceived quality of life. From an objective standpoint, flight-intensive practices may contribute to the satisfaction of universal human needs, such as relatedness, participation, or understanding.
Connecting Practices and Wellbeing
Analyzing the links between air travel and wellbeing requires a social practice theory lens. This emphasizes how material, social, and cultural elements shape the routines and dispositions that make up flight-intensive practices across work and leisure domains.
Our analytical framework (Figure 1) connects these practice elements to both subjective and objective wellbeing outcomes. We use this to review the existing literature and identify future research directions to better understand how reducing flight-intensity could impact quality of life.
Empirical Findings
The limited empirical research on air travel and wellbeing presents a mixed picture. On one hand, flight-intensive practices currently fulfill important human needs, particularly around family and social relationships. Leisure air travel often enhances subjective wellbeing by contributing to positive moods and life satisfaction, at least in the short-term.
However, frequent flying also hinders wellbeing. It increases stress, health issues, and work-life strain. While claims that air travel is “necessary” for wellbeing are common, especially for leisure and visiting family/friends, it is unclear whether positive benefits would diminish by replacing air travel with low-carbon alternatives or reducing overall travel.
Environmental Considerations
Air travel is a major contributor to climate change, causing over 4% of total human-induced global warming. Emissions from the sector are projected to grow substantially, posing challenges for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. While efficiency gains and alternative fuels are being pursued, demand-side measures to reduce air travel volumes will likely be essential.
Policies to curb air travel demand, such as frequent flyer levies, emissions caps, or air travel quotas, are often opposed based on claims about air travel’s importance for wellbeing. However, our analysis suggests that with appropriate infrastructure and sociocultural changes, reducing flight-intensity may not significantly compromise quality of life. This could involve supporting low-carbon transport, videoconferencing, or reducing overall travel, while still enabling the fulfillment of universal human needs.
Individual Differences
The embeddedness of flight-intensive practices in modern life varies across demographic groups, personality traits, and lifestyles. For example, immigrants and transnational communities rely more on air travel to maintain family and social ties. Frequent flyers may derive a sense of identity and status from their travel habits. Addressing these individual differences will be crucial for designing policies that maintain wellbeing while reducing emissions.
Conclusion
Reducing air travel demand will be necessary for the transport sector to align with climate goals, but this must be achieved without significantly compromising individual or societal wellbeing. Our analysis of the existing literature reveals a complex relationship between flight-intensive practices and quality of life, with both positive and negative implications.
To support the transition to sustainable mobility, future research should explicitly study the material, social, and cultural elements shaping flight-intensive practices, and how using alternatives to air travel impacts wellbeing. Filling these knowledge gaps can inform the development of emissions reduction policies that are both effective and socially feasible. The European Future Energy Forum provides a valuable platform to advance this critical area of research and policy.