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Environmental issues in air transport have grown in importance in recent years, and in response some airlines have been proactive to demonstrate their 'green' credentials. The aim of this paper is to identify air traveller perceptions of different airlines with regard to green image, and how passengers perceive different measures that airlines can introduce to reduce their environmental impact. The research is based on a large quantitative survey, of over 600 air travellers, conducted at Liverpool John Lennon Airport between April and July 2010. The data in this papers stems from a range of attitudinal statements on airlines, and measures that airlines could adopt to improve their environmental performance.When presented with a list of airlines, about half of respondents were able to differentiate between airlines based on environmental friendliness. The results show that low-cost airlines in general are not seen as more or less environmentally friendly than full service network airlines. Yet air travellers do indicate differences in the environmental image based on individual airlines. Furthermore, results vary depending on whether passengers had flown previously with a particular airline. Passengers also differentiate between measures that airlines can adopt to reduce the environmental impact of aviation. Using newer aircraft is seen as the most effective way to address the issue.

BRT appears to be less expensive to build and operate than tram systems but can it really approach the performance level of a tram system and what is the environmental performance of comparable systems?This paper reports systematic research on these issues, particularly relating to where an urban transit system seeks to attract discretionary car users. A model has been developed to compare the implementation, operational costs and environmental impacts of a comparable tram and high quality guided BRT system. This models a UK situation, but draws upon information from elsewhere in Europe and North America. The design of the BRT system delivers equivalent performance to trams in capacity and passenger experience.This 'equivalence' model shows that the capital costs of the high-spec BRT system are two-thirds those of tram. This is less of a cost saving than is often claimed, suggesting that, in practice, BRT is built to a lower specification that tram systems. Operational costs do not significantly differ. Using hybrid-engine BRT vehicles, CO 2 emissions are similar, BRT has lower PM 10 emissions, but NO x from BRT remains higher than for trams.Although the cost differences for equivalent systems are less than is often claimed, there are substantial benefits in the flexible development of BRT, with it less vulnerable to variations from forecast ridership numbers, and development can be split into fundable stages, growing the business case for incremental upgrading. High-spec BRT can to be the new tram, but the 'value for money' case for BRT should not be at the expense of quality and transport planning impact. The demise of Light Rail and emergence of Bus Rapid TransitThe development of new light rail systems in the U.K. has all but ceased after the construction of a handful of large city schemes. Only Edinburgh is now seeing the construction of a new tram system, and this is beset with serious programme, project overrun and overspend issues (Foster, 2011). There are some extension projects underway to existing tram systems, including Nottingham (NET), Birmingham (Midland Metro) and Manchester (Metrolink), but these are exploiting the existing investment in their initial systems.A number of schemes have failed in the planning stages, including Liverpool, Leeds and South Hampshire. In the wake of this, a UK National Audit Office report (NAO, 2004) concluded the failings of light rail to be: 2• Too costly when compared to buses • Existing schemes financial performance is poor • Local funding is necessary in addition to central government funding but is difficult to obtain • The planning timescales are excessively long These points were picked up in a recent review by Hall (2011), who compared the UK institutional and funding context to that of France, with its plethora of light rail schemes successfully implemented even in quite small urban areas.Faced by this difficult institutional and regulatory context for new tram schemes, guided and higher-technology bus-based systems have seen growing popularity. Gui...

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