Private jet flights surge 50% from 2019 to 2023, driving up emissions

Private jet flights have increased significantly, leading to a 50% rise in climate-heating emissions from 2019 to 2023. An analysis of nearly 19 million flights found that many jets traveled short distances, with 900,000 flights under 50 kilometers. The study revealed that private jets, used by a small fraction of the population, are the most polluting transport option. The US accounted for 69% of these flights, with emissions in 2023 exceeding 15 million tonnes, more than the total emissions of Tanzania. Researchers noted that the growth in private jet use highlights global inequality in emissions. They suggested that wealthy individuals should bear the costs of their emissions and proposed increasing landing fees for private jets to address the issue.