North South Travel was established in the late 1970s as a travel business selling air tickets whose profits are used to fund development work. The company is owned by the NST Development Trust, a registered charitable trust (no. 1040656) and all available profits are distributed to grassroots projects, mostly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The travel agency which is ATOL-bonded (no. 5401) and specialises in low-cost, long-haul flights, is based in Chelmsford, Essex. The directors of North South Travel, who are also trustees of the NST Development Trust are, with the exception of the travel agency manager, unpaid volunteers.
North South Travel's declaration that it believes "flying brings huge benefits, to travellers and host countries" has been balanced by the company's realisation of the environmental damage done by flying. It requests that flights purchased are made the subject of carbon offsetting with a climate offset company like Climate Care.