27 September 2023 , 12:21
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Pep Guardiola was lamenting a problem familiar to Premier League managers, but one which highlighted the complete disconnect with the real world.
“After the game we cannot come back by plane because of a problem – something for the planes,” the Manchester City manager said. “We don’t have a plane to travel back, so we have to take a bus.” Guardiola was talking about City’s trip to play Newcastle in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
There are around 106 miles between Manchester and Newcastle, or 145 miles on the roads of the north of England. That is a significant trip by anyone’s standards – over two and a half hours each way – but not one that most people would think requires a plane.
Yet, as we have come to realise this year, Premier League teams operate in a completely different world. They think nothing of taking a 20-minute flight. As a Mirror Football investigation revealed, short-haul flights are extremely prevalent in the Premier League, with clubs frequently opting for convenience over their sustainability. Research by BBC Sport found 81 individual flights were taken by Premier League sides between January 19 and March 19 of this year alone.
Along with many other organisations, the Premier League is aiming to reduce its emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2040. Many of its clubs are doing admirable sustainability work, making their buildings and operations greener while engaging supporters on important issues. But short-haul flights remain an elephant in the room.
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Scientists say chartering a plane for a short-haul flight is around 25 to 30 times worse for the environment than driving the same distance in a coach. Yet clubs feel they often have no choice but to take them. As an Arsenal spokesperson told Mirror Football in February: “Domestic flights are sometimes a necessity based on player welfare and operational needs.”
Manchester City regularly fly to games (Alexander Hassenstein/UEFA via Getty Images)