Flying Isn’t Black and White: Rethinking Impact, Responsibility, and Aviation

About this episode

This episode explores the complexities of aviation's impact on sustainable travel with guest Keila Alabarca.

Flying is one of the most talked-about (and most misunderstood) parts of sustainable travel. But is it really as simple as “good” or “bad”? In this episode of Sustainable Travel Talks , we’re joined by Keila Alabarca, Sr. Sustainability Manager at Fluege.de, to unpack the reality of aviation - from emissions and contrails to the deeper, often overlooked impacts on people and communities. Together, we explore what the impact of flying actually means, why common debates like short-haul vs. long-haul aren’t as straightforward as they seem, and where responsibility really lies across travelers, companies, and the wider industry. Keila also shares what it’s like to work in one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise - navigating criticism, complexity, and the challenge of driving change from within an industry that openly acknowledges it isn’t sustainable. We dive into what’s actually improving in aviation, the role of transparency and education, and how platforms like Fluege.de can help travelers make more informed choices, without oversimplifying the issue. Finally, we bring it back to you: what really makes a difference when you fly? From reducing frequency to rethinking how we…

People in this episode

Hosts: Peigi, Roberto

Guest: Keila Alabarca

Topics covered

• sustainable travel
• aviation impact
• responsibility in travel
• emissions
• decarbonisation
• transparency
• travel choices

Keywords

• sustainable travel
• aviation
• emissions
• responsibility
• Fluege.de
• travel choices
• decarbonisation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Fluege.de, Sustainable Travel Talks

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