On average, private jets emit ten times more CO₂ per passenger than commercial flights and up to 50 times more than trains, yet they are used predominantly by the wealthiest 1%. Fair taxation and a transition to more sustainable options, including rail and commercial aviation, can significantly reduce excessive private jet use while channeling contributions toward cleaner fuels and next-generation aircraft.
Flying on a private jet is one of the most climate-intensive ways to travel. Their emissions increased by 46% between 2019 and 2023, and yet most of these flights cover short distances (under 500 km). Reducing the use of private jets thus deserves special attention in curbing corporate executives’ travel footprints.
A number of well-known global companies have a larger share of travel emissions than most, while owning or chartering private jets. They should shift to more sustainable alternatives: travelling by rail or prioritising a commercial flight with a significantly lower footprint.
In addition, taxing private jets according to flight distance, as is already done in France, the Netherlands and the UK, would allow investments in green technologies such as sustainable aviation fuels (particularly e-kerosene) and zero-emission aircraft.
