the 5% who make up two billion

As the Government narrowly wins the vote for the third runway at Heathow, the RSA's William Shaw links to a snappily-satirical short story by Helen Simpson that appeared in Granta 100.

In-flight Entertainment seats a climate-sceptic businessman (who doesn't know what he's talking about) next to a scientist (who does) on a long-haul flight from Heathrow to Chicago.

The story contains the standout stat that over two billion people flew last year even though 95% of the world's population has never been on a plane.

(Not unrelated: Britain has been warned by the European Commission for failing to comply with EU standards on air quality.)