The Greenpeace members turned up for the first British Airways service to Newquay to offer the 34 passengers free train tickets to the surfing hotspot, and made a similar proposal to the 17 waiting to return from Newquay.

The tiny passenger numbers aboard a Boeing 737 that can potentially carry almost 150 people means that each traveller was responsible for a whopping tonne of CO2 emissions.

Greenpeace said that BA was being “irresponsible” and “flying in the face of climate science” by opening the route to Newquay, which is already the destination for two airlines.

As well as offering the free tickets, the Greenpeace members gave out leaflets featuring aeroplanes formed in a rude v-fingered gesture which read, “BA claims to be concerned about climate change. But the growth in short-haul routes undermines our chances of stopping climate change.”

Although no passengers took the charity up on their offer, campaigner, Emily Armistead, said that they had been a receptive audience. “If BA is serious about green issues, they would ground these flights,” she said.

“Passengers were really surprised to hear that taking a plane was 10 times more polluting than a train journey. We are not trying to guilt-trip people. We want to make sure they make the right choices.” Greenpeace added that some promised to consider taking the train for future journeys.

Cornish Green Party spokeswoman, Lindsay Southcombe, added her voice to the protest, saying “There are severe additional impacts on Cornwall from dumping passengers at a rural airport with minimal onward transport connections. Inevitably this means more despoliation of our lanes and local environment.”

Click here for Greenpeace website