British companies are banning employees from flying to the UK to reduce their carbon footprint

Earlier this year, NHS England, England’s largest employer, banned business flights within mainland Britain for its 1.5 million employees.

A panel was established in May to review all requests for business flights, with domestic air travel only allowed in exceptional circumstances or if it saves taxpayers’ money.

The ban was introduced after the Health Service Journal reported that NHS England staff were flying between Glasgow and London, as well as Manchester and London, for internal meetings in 2023.

Perhaps the strictest ban was introduced by the Environment Agency, which did not allow workers to undertake housework flights since 2010, except in certain circumstances.

The agency does not allow its staff to fly on business within England and Wales or between England and Paris, Brussels or other Eurostar destinations for its 12,000 staff.

It sometimes allows air travel to Scotland, but these applications are reviewed and challenged by executive directors and must have a good business case for approval.