Flying within Europe remains significantly cheaper than travelling by train on many cross-border routes, according to a new Greenpeace report. The environmental group warns that this pricing imbalance undermines climate goals, with low-cost airlines dominating the market while rail passengers face comparatively high fares.
The study analysed 142 routes in 31 European countries, including 109 cross-border connections. On 54% of these, flights were cheaper than trains on at least six out of nine travel days surveyed. In contrast, trains were consistently cheaper on only 39% of cross-border routes, mainly in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in the Baltics and Poland.
The starkest price gap was found on the Barcelona–London route, where a plane ticket cost as little as €14.99, compared with a train fare of up to €389 — a difference of 26 times. In France, Spain and the UK, trains were more expensive than flights on up to 95% of cross-border routes.
Herwig Schuster, transport campaigner at Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, said:
“Even as the climate crisis worsens, Europe’s tax system continues to favour the most polluting way to travel. It is absurd that a flight from Barcelona to London can cost just €15 while the train on the same route is up to 26 times more expensive. Aviation enjoys unfair tax privileges, while train passengers are left to pay the price. These prices don’t reflect a functioning market – they reflect a rigged system.
Tax system under scrutiny
Greenpeace argues that the pricing disparity is not a reflection of efficiency but of policy choices. Aviation fuel remains untaxed across the EU, while international flight tickets are exempt from VAT. Airlines are therefore able to offer tickets for less than the cost of airport and ticketing fees.
By contrast, rail operators pay full VAT, face high track access charges, and must absorb rising energy costs. These structural differences leave trains at a disadvantage, even though they are far less carbon-intensive.
Environmental costs of flying
Flying produces, on average, five times more CO₂ emissions per passenger-kilometre than trains. When compared with rail networks powered entirely by renewable electricity, aviation’s climate impact can be over 80 times greater. Despite this, artificially low airfares continue to push travellers towards flying, contributing to growing emissions from the sector.
Small improvements since 2023
This is Greenpeace’s second major report on flight and rail fares. Since the previous edition in 2023, there have been modest improvements: the share of routes where trains are cheaper has risen by 14 percentage points. Contributing factors include the development of stronger rail links and fewer ultra-low-cost flights routed through hub airports such as London and Dublin.
Night trains have also become more competitive, often offering a lower-cost and climate-friendly alternative to high-speed services. However, they still struggle to match the heavily subsidised prices of air travel.
Greenpeace demands policy reform
Greenpeace is urging the EU and national governments to act, calling for reforms that would make rail travel more affordable and competitive. The organisation’s recommendations include:
- Ending subsidies and tax privileges for aviation.
- Simplifying the fragmented rail ticketing system across Europe.
- Increasing investment in rail infrastructure.
- Introducing affordable “climate tickets”, flat-rate passes valid across national and international public transport networks.
Schuster added:
Every route where a plane is cheaper than a train is a political failure. We can’t keep rewarding the most polluting form of transport. Europe must make trains the cheapest and easiest option — not the last resort.
Methodology
The 2025 Greenpeace study compared fares on 142 routes, of which 109 were cross-border and 33 domestic. Only journeys under 1,500 km air distance were considered, as these can be reasonably covered by both train and plane. For each route, fares were checked for nine different travel dates, with booking periods spread across the short-, medium- and long-term.
The report underlines a continuing imbalance between air and rail travel in Europe. While modest progress has been made since 2023, flying remains artificially cheap due to tax exemptions and subsidies, while rail operators face higher operating costs.
As Europe grapples with record wildfires, droughts and heatwaves, Greenpeace argues that aligning transport pricing with climate objectives is essential. Without reform, travellers will continue to choose the cheapest option — flying — at the expense of the environment.
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