The analysis compared prices for rail and air travel on identical European
routes and found that, while flights are frequently cheaper for solo travellers
without luggage, the cost balance changes significantly once additional
passengers or baggage are included.
The study was conducted by students enrolled in the Bachelor’s programme in
Mobility Science at the ZHAW School of Engineering and builds on a Greenpeace study published in August 2025.
The earlier Greenpeace research, titled “Flying Cheap, Paying Dear”,
concluded that air travel is often cheaper than rail travel for single
passengers without luggage on international routes. According to the ZHAW
analysis, this pricing dynamic is largely driven by favourable competitive
conditions in aviation, which allow airlines to offer low base fares.
The ZHAW study expanded the comparison to include additional traveller
profiles, such as families and passengers with extra baggage. It found that
airfares increase more rapidly than train fares when extra services or seats
are required, making rail travel financially competitive or cheaper for these
groups.
“At first glance, airfares often appear to be significantly cheaper than train fares. However, families with children and travelers with luggage in particular are advised to compare prices more closely. Child discounts on trains and hidden baggage fees on airlines can have a significant impact on the actual price of the trip” said Thomas Sauter-Servaes, Programme Director Mobility Science.
The study evaluated 136 European rail and air connections and identified
substantial differences in price trends. For solo travellers with little or no
luggage, prices between the two modes were often similar. However, when
children and additional luggage were included, flight prices rose significantly
more.
In family travel scenarios, flights were found to be, on average, more than
twice as expensive as train journeys. Last-minute bookings increased prices for
both modes of transport, with air travel showing a much steeper rise.
The largest price advantages for air travel were observed on routes
involving London and Barcelona, where large airports and the presence of low-cost carriers exert strong downward pressure
on flight prices, limiting the ability of rail operators to compete.
For Switzerland, the study analysed eight international routes departing
from Basel, Geneva and Zurich. Train travel to neighbouring countries such as
France, Germany and Austria was generally cheaper than flying, including routes
to Berlin, Paris and Vienna.
For journeys to Spain, flying was almost always the cheaper option. The
analysis also highlighted wide price differences in rail travel from
Switzerland. The lowest train fare recorded was 29 euros for the route from Geneva
to Paris, while the highest was 417 euros from Zurich to Madrid. The most
expensive flight analysed, from Zurich to Berlin, cost 276 euros per person.
“Our analysis results confirm the findings of the Greenpeace price study 2025. Airlines can offer very low fares that would never be economical if real CO2 costs were factored in. Despite this competitive disadvantage, rail travel is already the more cost-effective travel alternative for many target groups in cross-border European transport” said Thomas Sauter-Servaes.
Tags: Thomas Sauter-Servaes study ZHAW Zurich University train airports
