Flybe says passengers will see the emissions from different aircraft

The firm says this "eco-labelling" plan is the first of its kind and will let people choose which route or aircraft is the least environmentally damaging.

This data will also help them decide if they want to offset their journey to counter the damage, says Flybe.

Aviation emissions are 6% of the UK's total but set to rise significantly.

The Department for Transport predicts air travel will rise three-fold by 2050 based on 2003 levels.

'Most sensitive'

Flybe said that giving passengers more information was meant to help them identify which type of aircraft or which type of route was "the most sensitive to the environment".

FLYBE LABELLING Local environment- assesses noise rating, emissions on take-off and landing Journey environment - grades fuel consumption, CO2 emissions for different distances Passenger environment - provides data on leg room and seat numbers

Flybe says it has invested more than �2bn in "new state-of-the-art environmentally sensitive aircraft" - including the Bombardier Q400 and the Embraer 195.

The firm says it is phasing out all other aircraft acquired when it bought BA Connect in March 2007.

Offsetting

Flybe has named UK charity Pure to oversee carbon offsetting schemes for its passengers.

Offsetting - by which consumers can pay a certain amount for someone else to reduce their emissions - has become a popular way to pay for the damage done by flying and other activities.

However a lack of consistency or transparency has raised concerns over the effectiveness of such schemes.

We take up the challenge to...help bring pressure across the industry to reduce emissions by improving standards Flybe

In December last year the UK government said it would set standards for carbon offsetting schemes to bring "greater clarity" to the industry.

Pure - which invests donor money into certified credits approved under the EU allowance system - was one of only a handful of providers that met the government's standards.

Following the launch, Flybe said it aimed to "help bring pressure across the industry to reduce emissions by improving standards."