Since I founded Ski Flight Free in 2019, I have cut down on my flights considerably in an effort to reduce my carbon footprint. Flight Free in 2024 and 2025 For the last two years, I have gone slightly further committed to the ‘Flight Free Challenge’ – created by Anna...
In June 2025, Eurostar confirmed that they would be running the ‘Eurostar Snow Train’ again for the forthcoming 2025/26 winter season. This is great news, plus there are some key changes to this year’s service that will make the journey more attractive for many travellers. What dates will the Eurostar...
In 2022, I looked at the carbon footprint of a ski holiday, based on some research by French ski resorts. The original research attempted to detail the carbon cost of a day’s skiing, and the differences your choices can make to the final figure. I’ve now updated these figures, to...
The options for train travel to the Alps this winter are outlined here: THE EUROSTAR SKI TRAIN (via Lille) Eurostar have confirmed that their snow train, reintroduced last winter will continue for 2025/26 with more departures, plus an option to return on the following Saturday (six days’ skiing), as well...
As well as founding Ski Flight Free, Iain also presents The Ski Podcast. In September 2023, Iain discussed new train travel options with Krissie Roe from Inghams: In September 2020, Iain was joined by Daniel Elkan from Snowcarbon and Anna Hughes from Flight Free UK in a Facebook Live event to discuss...
Make sure you pick up a copy of this month’s ‘Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Magazine’ encouraging skiers to #SkiFlightFree. You can find Iain’s opinion piece on the existential threat to ski resorts on page 20: Find out more at www.skiflightfree.org
Climate change represents an existential threat to human life on the planet. The evidence for this has been widely published, but you don’t have to take my word for it. This is what Britain’s most trusted man has to say on the subject: An existential threat to the ski industry...
Transfer company Ski Lifts has extended their eco-friendly transfer options to cover over 100 ski destinations, exclusively using electric or hybrid vehicles. The new fleet includes Tesla Model X, Mercedes V-class EQV and the BMW i7. Other vehicles used include the Mercedes S-class, Mercedes E-class Hybrid and Toyota RAV 4 hybrid. Same cost for EV...
In January 2024, Iain presenter of The Ski Podcast and founder of Ski Flight Free, travelled from London to Les 2 Alpes by train. “This was a first for me, as while I’ve travelled to Switzerland and the Tarentaise in France on many occasions, this was my first train journey to the Southern French Alps.” 08:01 (GMT)...
SkiStar, the largest ski resort operator in Scandinavia is expanding its fleet of electric snowmobiles. The company has teamed up with Taiga, who provided electric snowmobiles for a trial at the resort of Sälen in Sweden in 2022. “In addition to using the machines for ski patrol and other mountain operations, we will be offering our guests...
The Vialattea ski area – also known by some Brits as the ‘Milky Way’ – has joined resorts like Morzine and La Rosiere in offering a lift pass discount to skiers arriving by train. The ltalian-French region has announced a new partnership agreement with Trenitalia, the main Italian train company. ‘Official Green Carrier’ Trenitalia has been...
While train travel to the Alps may not be more expensive than flying, it does normally take longer. Perhaps that has put you off taking the train to a ski resort, particularly on a shorter break. With a limited amount of holiday available, why use up some of your valuable days simply by travelling to...
According to Eurotunnel, direct trains from London to Geneva could be an option before the end of this decade. Yann Leriche, the chief executive of Getlink, the company that runs the tunnel, has been quoted saying that he expects new entrants to compete with Eurostar on the cross-channel route. Eurostar only company to offer trains...
Since I founded Ski Flight Free four years ago, I have substantially cut down on my flights, but I haven’t managed to stop flying completely. Admittedly one flight was rolled over from lockdown and another was to visit my elderly mum in Australia, but in 2024 I am committing to the ‘Flight Free Challenge’ –...
Kudos to Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority for ruling this week that adverts by three airlines were simply greenwashing. The ASA concluded that adverts by Air France, Etihad and Lufthansa were misleading when they used phrases such as ‘committed to protecting the environment’ and helping customers to ‘fly more sustainably’. “No initiatives…that would adequately substantiate absolute...
Another alternative to flying to your ski holiday is travelling by coach. Coach travel to the Alps is a great way to reduce the carbon footprint of your ski holiday while often being cheaper than train travel or driving, especially at peak season. Many skiers and snowboarders might only have travelled by coach to a...
This winter, the resort of Laax in Switzerland is introducing the world’s first ski lift that can be summoned ‘on demand’. The new CHF80 million lift addresses the inherent inefficiency of traditional gondola that sees cabins continually rotate regardless of whether they have any occupants. The ‘FlemXpress’ will send cabins only on request. Energy use...
Disappointing news was released this week from the start-up Midnight Trains, who have confirmed that their plans no longer include a sleeper train from Edinburgh to Paris. The company plans to offer travellers a new ‘hotel on rails’ service around Europe, serving a dozen destinations to and from Paris. No Edinburgh-Paris service The company has...
Eurostar has confirmed that the no Eurostar trains will be able to depart from the Netherlands between June 2024 and January 2025 – a shorter interruption than anticipated. Renovation work in Amsterdam This is because of renovation work at the Amsterdam Central station, which will mean that the Eurostar departure and customs area will be...
