Study: Private Jet Flights And Their CO2 Emissions On the Rise in Europe Since Start of the Pandemic

From 2020 to 2022, 3.3 million metric tons of CO2 were emitted, with 2022 seeing 572,806 private flights.

Private jet flights in Europe and their emissions have soared to record levels since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study commissioned by Greenpeace and conducted by CE Delft.

The study looked at information from 30 European countries. It found that the number of private flights almost tripled from 2020 to 2021, and CO2 emissions more than quadrupled during that same period. From 2021 to 2022, private flights increased more than 1.5 times, and CO2 emissions more than doubled. From 2020 to 2022, 3.3 million metric tons of CO2 were emitted, with 2022 seeing 572,806 private flights.

“Just 1% of the global population is responsible for half of the world’s aviation emissions,” Greenpeace said on its website. “Private jets are the epitome of social and climate injustice: a supremely privileged minority flying like there’s no tomorrow without any restriction, while 80% of the global population has never even been on a plane and is most heavily impacted by the climate crisis.”

According to the study, the UK had the highest number of private flights in 2022, with 90,256 trips total that resulted in 501,077 metric tons of CO2 emissions.

Greenpeace noted that “55 percent of all private jet flights in Europe last year were short or ultra short flights below 750 km that could easily have been train and ferry trips.”

According to Transport & Environment, private jets can pollute 5 to 14 times more than a commercial plane, per passenger, and 50 times more than a train.

“Reducing oil-powered transport immediately is a no-brainer, starting with a ban on energy-wasting ultra-polluting private jets that provide no value for people, yet burden them with harmful emissions, toxic microparticles and noise, harming our climate, environment and health,” said Klara Maria Schenk, transport campaigner for Greenpeace’s Mobility for All campaign.