SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF PRIVATE FLIGHTS SINCE CORONA
- WWHISPER
- Jan 20, 2023
- 2 min read
That the world's richest and at the same time those who shout the loudest about the climate crisis and CO2 pollution always travel by planes and helicopters for a meeting, a diner party, a football match in Qatar or a weekend off is common knowledghe since long. How many private flights however take place every year is a well-kept secret. No information is provided on this matter.
The French TV channel TF1 has had the courage to conduct a survey. Its survey shows that the number of private flights worldwide has been on the rise since corona. Since 2020, the number of private flights has increased by 14% and by another 10% in 2022. This represents an increase of 24% over three years.
Exactly how many private flights are conducted every year has not been released. We only know about a percentage ( of what ? )
Although the carbon emissions per passenger of private planes are much higher than those of commercial planes or trains, those involved hide behind the argument that the reduction in services at smaller airports and the shortage of pilots leaves them no choice but to book a private plane.
According to a recent report from Honeywell, private jet users have no intention of reducing their private flights, with ¾ of those surveyed stating that they will not reduce the number of private flights they make annually. Only 4% said they will reduce their use but whether they will effectively do so remains an open question.
When the French Minister for Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, was confronted with the figures and asked how this could be reconciled with the climate crisis propagated by the very same private jet users, the issue was swept under the carpet with the words : " it would not be serious to suggest that a fight over planes would solve the whole problem ".
The minister further stated that a possible solution could be tax measures on aviation. However, higher taxes on private flights will not bother the rich of the world awake. It will not inspire them to travel by bicycle in the future. They have enough money.
Those who will again suffer, are the ordinary citizens who want to treat themselves with a well-earned holiday once a year with a flight to a sunny destination. Prices of commercial flights will rise and the rich of the earth will stay out of any scope and fly around even more on private planes.
Meanwhile supersonic private jets are build to speed up the travel time even more. Price is no objection nor is the carbon emission.
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