Virgin to offer carbon offsets alongside drinks and perfume

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2007

LONDON (AFP) — Travellers flying on Virgin Atlantic will soon be offered carbon offsets alongside alcohol and perfume in front of their fellow passengers in an effort to shame them into buying them, The Times reported on Thursday.

The cost of carbon offsetting will depend on the length of the flight and the class of seat -- while a one-way economy flight from London to New York will cost slightly more than five pounds (7.2 euros, 10.5 dollars), a one-way business class flight from London to Sydney would cost about 26 pounds.

A spokesman for the airline said it had decided on the new policy after noticing low participation in schemes offered by competing airlines where customers were presented with the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions of their flight...