Elite and high-emission flying

What is the impact of elite and high-emission flying on aviation emissions?

Global air travel is the most climate-intensive form of transport. And this is only set to rise. Between 2005 and 2019, aviation traffic in Europe grew 67%, causing its emissions to grow at a time when they need to be falling and emissions are projected to grow by a further 38% by 2050.

Business travel represents approximately 20% of all air travel in Europe. Yet business travelers only make up only some 12% of passengers. This is due to the fact that corporate flyers are typically frequent flyers. In fact, frequent flyers – less than 1% of the world’s population – account for more than 50% of aviation emissions.

Private jets are 5 to 14 times more polluting than commercial planes (per passenger), and 50 times more polluting than trains. Private jet emissions rose by 46% between 2019 and 2023.

Despite their disproportionate climate impact, private jets are untaxed in most European countries.

In 2024, the most polluting flights departing from Europe were all long-haul flights, with the London–New York ranking first and emitting over 1.4 Mt of CO₂. The first EU-originating flight to reach the ranking was the Frankfurt–Shanghai route, in fifth place, producing 0.8 Mt of CO₂. Most of the other top-emitting routes also departed from London.

The growth of the aviation sector, and in particular that of elite flying, is not compatible with the needs of the planet. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has called for rapid, deep cuts in emissions. Reducing business flying, travel by private jet and long-haul flying provides the greatest potential to avoid emissions within the sector in an equitable way.

What is the Travel Smart campaign?

In 2022, Transport & Environment launched a campaign on corporate flying called “Travel Smart,” aiming at reducing corporate air travel emissions by -50% or more of pre-Covid levels by 2025.

Having contributed to inspiring companies towards a new culture of purposeful travel and keeping emissions low, the campaign has expanded its focus to high-emission, elite air travel - including business flights, private jets, and long-haul journeys. This work towards managing travel demand goes hand in hand with efforts to address airport capacity and sustainable infrastructure.

The goal of the global campaign, led by T&E within a coalition of partners across Europe, North America and Asia, is to reduce excessive elite and high-emission flying to help control aviation emissions in this decade. To achieve this, we campaign together with partners in Europe and globally to contribute to more sustainable travel in the future. Visit the campaign’s website to find out more.

Can elite and long-haul flying ever be green?

For the critical decade until 2030, the best way to reduce aviation emissions is to fly less. As of yet, green technologies are not available at scale to have an impact on reducing emissions. The timeline for the scale-up of sustainable fuels and zero-emissions aircraft is currently post-2030. In time, these technologies will contribute to reducing aviation emissions.

Offsetting emissions is ineffective and a fake climate solution. It will never be enough to tackle emissions of the world’s fastest polluting transport sector. Airlines and businesses should stop using it as an excuse to postpone climate action.