Background information

During the response period, 196 completed questionnaires were obtained from a total of 204 responses. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21.0. Background information of respondents completing the questionnaire can be seen in table 6. Looking at demographic information, the age distribution of respondents ranged from 24 to 67 with the majority of respondents aged between 31 and 59 years old (83.2%). Slightly more than two thirds of respondents were female and with regards to monthly income just over half the sample (51.5%) earned less than 3,500 € per month with the rest earning more than 3,500€ per month.

Table 6. Background information of survey respondents

Frequency Percentage

Table 7 shows the means and variances of items in the survey measuring respondents’ values.

The means show that in general respondents placed a great deal of importance on self-transcendence values. Self-enhancement values were on average slightly less important while openness to change values were on average least important.

Table 7. Summary of respondents’ values

Unity with nature: fitting into nature

Protecting the environment: preserving nature Respecting the earth: harmony with other species

4.58 Looking at respondents’ past flying and offsetting behaviour, it can be seen from table 8 that 21.9% had not flown at all in the previous 12 months while approximately a quarter (25.5%) had flown relatively infrequently (1 to 2 times in the previous 12 months). Slightly more than another quarter of respondents (26.6%) were relatively frequent flyers (3 – 6 times in previous 12 months), with slightly more than a quarter of respondents (26.1%) flying quite frequently (more than 7 in the previous 12 months). With regards to offsetting, just under 10% of respondents had ever paid to offset their carbon emissions when flying.

Table 8. Air-travel behaviour in last 12 months

Frequency Percentage Number of flights in previous 12 months

0

In table 9 the means and variances of constructs proposed to be direct predictors of behaviour intentions (except for past behaviour) may be seen. All items were measured on scales from 1 to 7. Items with a * were reversed scored and have been rescaled to correspond to the other items in their scales. Examination of table 9 shows that respondents had very positive attitudes towards engaging in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours while for the three types of norms, respondents on average perceived different levels of pressure. On average, respondents felt little moral obligation to act more environmentally. With regards to injunctive norms respondents perceived some pressure to act more environmentally. However in contrast to this, on average they perceived that few people were actually engaging in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours. For self-identity, means for the items suggest that for many respondents air-travel is not an important part of their self-identity. With regards to PBC, on average respondents neither agreed nor disagreed about having control over engaging in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours.

Table 9. Direct predictors of behaviour

Item Statement Mean Std.

I think engaging in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours in the next 12 months is

(good | bad)*

All (Strongly disagree | Strongly agree)

I feel a strong personal obligation to engage in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours in the next 12 months.

I would feel guilty if I did not engage in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours in the next 12 months.

I would not feel guilty if I flew by plane in the next 12 months even if there were other feasible transport alternatives.

I would feel good if I engage in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours in the next 12 months.

3.98 behaviours in the next 12 months, people who are important to me would (completely disapprove | completely approve)

5.74 1.30

IN2

IN3

Most people who are important to me think that engaging in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours in the next 12 months is (completely undesirable | completely desirable).

Most people who are important to me think that (I should not | I should) engage in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours in the next 12 months.

5.17

All (Strongly disagree | Strongly agree)

Most other people engage in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours.

Most other people like to engage in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours wherever possible.

Most people do not engage in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours.*

To engage in air-travel is an important part of who I am. (No, definitely not | Yes, definitely)

I am not the type of person oriented to engage in air-travel.

(Completely false | Completely true)*

I would feel at a loss if I were forced to give up air-travel.

(Strongly disagree | Strongly agree)

How much control do you have over whether you engage in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours in the next 12 months? (Very little control | A great deal of control) For me to engage in pro-environmental air-travel related

It is mostly up to me whether I engage in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours in the next 12 months.

(Strongly disagree | Strongly agree)

How difficult would it be for you to engage in pro-environmental air-travel related behaviours in the next 12 months? (Very difficult | Very easy)

3.85

Means for the items used to measure the intention to offset when flying suggest that on average respondents appear relatively unwilling to offset their travel emissions when flying. In addition, intentions to fly less frequently are quite weak. However respondents seem somewhat more willing to use alternatives modes of travel such as trains, buses or ferries.

Table 10. Air-travel related behaviour intentions

I intend to fly less frequently (or not at all) in the next 12 months. (Extremely unlikely | Extremely likely)

Do you intend to fly less frequently ((or not at all) in the next 12 months? (Definitely intend not to | Definitely intend to) I (do not intend | do intend) to fly less frequently (or not at all) in the next 12 months.

Do you intend to travel by train, bus or ferry rather than by air-travel next 12 months? (Definitely intend not to | Definitely intend to)

I (do not intend | do intend) to travel by train, bus or ferry rather than by air-travel in the next 12 months.

4.59 offset the carbon emissions from your flight(s)? (Definitely intend not to | Definitely intend to)

If I fly in the next 12 months, I (do not intend | do intend) to pay to offset the carbon emissions from my flight(s).

2.87