FLYGSKAM, or "flight shame" is a movement that, until this year, few had heard of. Originating in Sweden, it describes the guilt felt by jet passengers for travelling by air and therefore contributing to the growing emissions of the aviation industry. But thanks to 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg publicly chiding politicians on both sides of the Atlantic, it has caught on. On the face of it, this is not a positive trend for airline bosses. But yesterday, Easyjet became the first major airline to go net zero across its whole network of flights — "from today," boss Johan Lundgren emphasised. British Airways and Qantas have made similar promises which are yet to come into effect. So far, so good. But Lundgren is right to admit that carbon offsetting is only an "interim measure". Flying remains miles behind other modes of transport on, for instance, electric power, which most experts agree will have little impact on the mass aviation market within the next two decades. Meanwhile, air travel continues to grow, with airline emissions jumping 26 per cent between 2013 and 2018, and passenger numbers to double by 2037. Easyjet's quick reaction to calm consumers' concerns by auto-offsetting their flights is a good way to ease the flygskam of its passengers, but there is a long way to go. ALEX DANIEL

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