Joshua Co

11213442
ACETHIC K31
The Carbon Footprint of British Airways Case
1. Do you think British Airways is being hypocritical?
I believe that BA is being hypocritical because they set one of their environmental goals
as reducing carbon emission, and yet they are doing something that would increase
carbon emissions. Even though they earn the bulk of their profit from premium class
services like these, it still makes them hypocritical since it clashes with their goals.
2. British Airways is attempting to reduce its carbon footprint by flying more fuel-efficient
airplanes, such as the A318. The carbon footprint per passenger is lower if 100 people
occupy the A318 rather than only 32 people. Does the airline also have a responsibility
to reduce each passengers carbon footprint?
Yes, I believe that BA is responsible to reduce the carbon footprint of its passengers
because it has the power to do so. As the flag carrier of the United Kingdom, it is
important that they understand the gravity of their actions and the importance of their
position. They must be sensitive to the needs of their stakeholders and this means the
environment as well. Passengers only need to get from one place to the other and could
do without the luxurious aspect to it, especially if this aspect is detrimental to the
environment. The airlines must find a balance between satisfying its stakeholders and
maintaining an acceptable amount of profit.
3. The passengers who fly on the Club World London City flight pay a substantial premium
for luxury accommodations. Do you think that the increased premium they pay offsets the
increased carbon footprint of having only 32 passengers in the airplane?
I believe that it does not offset the cost of the increased carbon footprints. Short term
goals should not justify long term damage to the future of our country. Big companies
must learn to earn lower profits for the greater benefit of its stakeholders. On the same
note, customers must be willing to accept higher costs for the benefit of those around
them.
4. Is it socially responsible for British airways to fly 32 passengers in an aircraft that can
normally hold 100 passengers?
 It is clearly not socially responsibly for BA to do this luxury service. They have a
responsibility to society to ensure a cleaner environment. Planes are meant for travel and
by increasing the luxury aspect of it, it becomes impracticable in terms of the long term
damage to the environment.

I think students like me can relate to ethical problems like this. We all want something
(profit) but it comes at the expense of others (environment). As students we want higher grades,
more money, convenience, and such without thinking about who will be affected. We always
concern ourselves with short term gratification and avoid worrying about what the implications
mean to society and those around us. Students like me must learn to frame our way of thinking
towards more long term results. We must think about how avoiding our short term gratification
can greatly benefit us and those around us in the future. By avoiding cheating, we can train
ourselves to become more responsible and honest people in the future which will make us better
leaders. By avoiding acts like stealing and scamming people for money, we also train ourselves
and discipline ourselves to be results and goal based, and not profit based. By simply throwing
trash properly, we train ourselves to be environmentally responsible, and at the same time avoid
detrimental effects to our environment. Another ethical dilemma that students like me can face is
the band wagon dilemma especially in the aspect of being unethical. When everyone in the class
is cheating, it becomes hard to avoid this. When everyone would rather just litter than go through
the hassle of looking for a trash can, it becomes difficult not to follow this trend. It is difficult not
to get swayed by the masses. This is where your ethics must come into play. This is where your
iron will from resisting small challenges will show its colors. We must have a solid foundation
for decision making in the face of ethical problems and we will not be as easily swayed into
making unethical decisions.