Private jets emitted an estimated 19.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2023, according to a newly released study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). The report marks the first comprehensive global emissions inventory for private aviation, which accounts for nearly 4% of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from civil aviation.
Researchers used a combination of global ADS-B flight tracking, airport geolocation, and engine emissions databases to estimate aircraft activity and assign emissions by airport and country. The study, “Air and greenhouse gas pollution from private jets, 2023,” found that private jet emissions increased by 25% over the past decade. It also compared private jet emissions to all flights departing London Heathrow Airport, finding that global jet emissions trumped those of the international hub for the year.
“Private jets are a surprisingly large source of air and climate pollution,” said Daniel Sitompul, aviation fellow at the ICCT. “A typical private jet emits as many greenhouse gases each year as 177 passenger cars or nine heavy-duty highway trucks.” For context, there are approximately 1.64 billion private passenger vehicles operating globally, with about 17% of those in the U.S.
Private aviation activity is heavily concentrated in the U.S. In 2023, 65% of all private jet flights departed from U.S. airports, contributing 55% of global private jet GHGs. Florida and Texas accounted for more private jet flights than the entire EU. Europe accounted for 12% of emissions, with France responsible for one quarter of that total.
Short-haul missions dominate the private aviation sector, the report noted. The average private jet flight lasted less than two hours and covered a distance of fewer than 500 nm. The authors suggest that these routes are well suited to more efficient turboprop aircraft or potential modal shifts to rail in certain regions.
The study also ranked airports based on their emissions and fuel use. Eighteen of the 20 highest-emitting private airports were located in the U.S., including Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles, which ranked third globally for private jet GHGs.
“As wealth inequality explodes globally, policymakers have begun asking why private jet taxes are so low,” said ICCT senior director of research Dan Rutherford. “Given the slow pace of technological progress, it’s reasonable to charge ultrawealthy travelers more for their pollution.”
To support emissions reductions, the report recommends taxing jet-A for private jets. A global levy of $1.59 per gallon could raise as much as $3 billion annually to fund aviation decarbonization efforts. Tax proposals have been introduced in the U.S. Congress, and European regulators are weighing options to address emissions in the business aviation sector.