Madrid's Realteam Faces Criticism for Brief 30-minute Air Journey to Play La Liga Game
Real Madrid's journey to play Real Valladolid in La Liga has sparked controversy, with the Spanish soccer giants choosing to fly in a private jet for the 106-mile trip. Departing from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport at 11:21am, the team arrived at Villanubla airport 31 minutes later, before proceeding to their hotel. The journey could have been covered by car in under two hours or by train within an hour.
This isn't the first time Real Madrid has opted for air travel for short distances. They've flown to Valladolid for matches and even to Salamanca, 130 miles away, citing poor road conditions in January 2020. Patricia Reyes, the lead of Real Madrid's CSR projects, emphasized the club's commitment to the environment in an interview with Corresponsables, highlighting their efforts to reduce their impact on natural resources.
In January alone, Real Madrid will have racked up 5,600 miles of travel, including flights to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the Spanish Super Cup and to Valencia and Deportiva Minera on the east coast of Spain. Travel for such fixtures may face scrutiny following France's decision to ban domestic flights if a rail alternative takes less than two and a half hours.
While the environmental impacts of Real Madrid's jet travel aren't explicitly stated in the sources, it's widely understood that private jets have substantial carbon emissions, particularly during takeoff and landing. Celebrity influence and public scrutiny over environmental impacts are growing, pushing high-profile individuals and teams to make more sustainable choices.
Real Madrid's decision to travel by private jet for their La Liga match against Real Valladolid, despite the journey being manageable by car or train, has drawn criticism due to the team's previous air travels for short distances. Despite Real Madrid's CSR projects aimed at reducing their environmental impact, their frequent jet travels, such as to Valladolid and Salamanda, have raised concerns about their carbon emissions.
