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Interviewing Anna Hughes was a chance and wonderful encounter.

I never imagined that, in a hot August with endless days, I would find myself chatting with one of the most passionate and inspiring voices in environmental activism.

While searching for my next sustainable holiday destination, I came across Flight Free UK, a project that promotes tourism without planes. Leading it is Anna Hughes, who describes herself as an “environmentalist, author, and cyclist” - three words that say a lot about her practical approach to sustainable mobility. I asked her where this passion comes from, and she answered:

“I've been interested in the climate my whole life. I was just curious about the environment and saving the planet ever since I was a young child. That curiosity came partly from my parents, but also, I suppose, from school. So I’ve always tried to live a low-carbon life; that’s meant things like never owning a car, being vegan, having solar panels, refusing plastic bags at the shop, shopping local…”

In our world, especially in business, flying is often seen as essential to save time or reach work goals. Anna, however, offers a revolutionary idea: from a young age, she was aware of climate challenges, and about fifteen years ago, she chose to live with low emissions by giving up flying. She tells it like this:

“About fifteen years ago, I decided to stop flying because it was the next logical step in reducing my carbon footprint. Since then, I’ve aimed to show that living without flying doesn’t have to be a sacrifice. You can still travel, enjoy yourself, and live well without flights. The same goes for being vegan or not owning a car. It’s about finding different ways to do what you want without harming the planet.”

Since then, Anna has proven that living eco-friendly is not a sacrifice: you can still travel and enjoy life by choosing alternatives to flying, just like with veganism or cycling. But before revealing how Flight Free UK works, let’s take a step back: who is Anna Hughes, and how did she come to say no to flying?

Who is Anna Hughes: cyclist and advocate of “low-emission living”

Anna Hughes has always intertwined her career with sustainability and “green” mobility. She has cycled thousands of kilometers, sharing her adventures in bestselling books like Eat, Sleep, Cycle (2015) and Pedal Power (2017). I asked if this passion influenced her way of traveling and working. She smiles and says:

“Cycling, for me, is both a sustainable daily transport option and a form of adventure. Many of my adventure-loving friends fly to their destinations and then cycle, but I find it contradictory to fly when the bike itself is a low-carbon way to travel. So I try to avoid flights even to reach my cycling start points.”

What changes has this low-carbon lifestyle brought to her life? What difficulties? Anna is honest: giving up flying means giving up distant destinations outside Europe. But she is content:

“For those used to flying and driving, it might seem hard to live without those options, but it’s really about adapting your life to your values. I simply don’t travel to places that require flying, like the US or Australia, and I’m perfectly happy with that. Europe offers an incredible range of destinations accessible by train or bike.”

She adds an example that makes you think:

“If you have a car parked outside your house, you will use it even when you don’t really need to. But if you don’t have one, it’s not even an option. I think it’s the same with flying.”

A train journey to Lake Como: when travel becomes part of the adventure

From London, Anna explains that Europe has countless destinations easily reachable by train. She shares a recent trip with her family:

“Last year we went to Lake Como,” Anna recalls. “Instead of flying, we took the train from London. A landslide meant we had to go via Switzerland - stunning scenery that made the trip even better. We stopped overnight in Basel before continuing, visited Milan and Bergamo, and on the way back made it home in a single day. The journey itself was part of the holiday.”

I asked if something made this trip special compared to a typical flight. She answers:

“When you fly, you usually try to ignore the fact that you’re traveling - you read a book, watch a film, or try to sleep. But on the train, you are very involved in where you are. You see the landscapes, the people, their houses - it’s fascinating. The journey itself enhances the holiday experience, which is great because even though it takes longer, you spend extra time enjoying yourself.”

The mission of Flight Free UK

In 2019, Anna founded Flight Free UK, a non-profit initiative involving businesses, citizens, and institutions in reducing emissions by choosing to avoid flights when possible.

Flight Free UK focuses on raising awareness of the aviation industry’s huge climate impact and promoting sustainable alternatives. Their official website states their mission as: 'We encourage people to travel without flying, providing information and inspiration to discover more environmentally friendly ways to get around.'

Anna explains:

“We provide education and inspiration about the climate impact of flying and offer information about alternative travel methods like trains and bikes, which are often just as accessible and can even be more enjoyable. Our Flight Free Challenge invites people to give up flying for one year to break the habit and be part of a broader social shift.”

The campaign’s first year, in 2019, gathered over 6,000 participants - a clear sign interest is growing. The idea is simple: try it and see for yourself.

Overcoming obstacles (and busting myths)

Anna acknowledges that the idea can intimidate frequent flyers but reminds us that during the pandemic, we all lived a year without flying, often without even noticing:

“Initially, many people find the idea of going a whole year without flying daunting, especially frequent flyers. But we all did it during COVID, so it’s achievable.”

Another obstacle is the artificially low cost of flights due to the lack of taxation on aviation fuel:

“Another big challenge is that the aviation industry promotes the idea of ‘green flying’ through sustainable fuels or carbon offsets, but these solutions are often overstated or ineffective. Plus, flights are often cheaper than trains because airline fuel isn’t taxed, making flying artificially cheap and more tempting. When you factor in hidden costs like luggage fees, airport transfers, and parking, flights become more expensive and comparable to train fares, which are usually a single, transparent price. We need better regulation so people see the true cost of travel.”

A Guardian analysis confirms this: an Eurostar London-Paris emits just 4.1 kg of CO₂ per passenger versus 63.6 kg for the equivalent flight. Anna is sceptical of the aviation industry's 'miracle solutions,' like biofuels or electric planes, calling them a 'smokescreen.'

Final advice and reflections

Before concluding, I asked Anna for practical advice for those wanting to make a change. She says:

“Even small personal changes matter because they create ripple effects. My advice is to not only change your habits but also talk about your choices with others. Sharing why you make these changes influences friends, family, and colleagues. Remember Greta Thunberg’s influence - many people quit flying inspired by her. We all have the power to influence our immediate circles, and as more people make these shifts, systemic change becomes possible.”

Here are her concrete tips:

Plan train trips in advance: Europe is now well connected with high-speed, overnight, and international trains.

Share your sustainable choices with friends and colleagues: “The more people choose to stay grounded, the more will follow.”

Consider real costs: low-cost flights often hide extra fees, while train tickets usually include everything.

Enjoy the journey: the train is an adventure, full of landscapes, moments to relax, and conversations.

In the end, Anna leaves me with a phrase that sums up her message: Flight Free UK is an “inspiring, empowering, and fun” project. In an era when “a flight is the highest carbon purchase you can make,” the real challenge is changing mindset: to see trains, bikes, or buses not as sacrifices, but as open doors to new horizons.

Anna is convinced that by trying for a while, we’ll discover a slower but more authentic way to travel, good for the planet and for ourselves. And as she smiles,

“Avoiding just one more flight could be the best gift we give to the future.”