A recent analysis reveals a dramatic increase in private jet flights to popular European holiday destinations, with traffic surging by 250% at key tourist hotspots in July compared to January 2023.
The data, collected by the T3 Transportation Think Tank for the report commissioned by Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe indicates that most of these flights were for leisure purposes, with over 117,000 private jet journeys recorded to 45 luxury destinations throughout the year, resulting in more than 520,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Among the destinations analyzed, Nice, Geneva, and Palma de Mallorca emerged as the top three airports for private jet arrivals.
In Spain alone, 27,122 private jet flights landed last year, predominantly at airports in Palma, Ibiza, and Malaga, making it the second-most visited country in Europe for private aviation, after France.
Clara Thompson, transport campaigner for Greenpeace Germany said: “While ordinary people face the devastating impacts of the climate crisis – extreme floods, droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires – the ultra-wealthy continue to hop aboard their private jets under the guise of business travel, but often for leisure trips to Europe’s most luxurious holiday spots.
These private flights account for a disproportionate share of aviation emissions, accelerating the climate emergency. This extravagant luxury not only worsens environmental harm but also deepens inequality, leaving the majority to suffer the consequences of climate disasters and daily hardships.”
The report highlights that 93.2% of these flights were within Europe, with 11.9% covering short distances of up to 250 km—journeys that could have been made using more sustainable transportation options such as trains or ferries.
A single private jet flight to these destinations emits almost as much carbon as the average European citizen’s annual energy-related emissions. During the summer months, the increase in private jet flights resulted in significantly higher CO2 emissions, with airports like Ibiza and Menorca recording up to 68% of annual emissions during the summer peak alone.
In response, Greenpeace has called for an immediate ban on private jets and for European governments to introduce a wealth tax on billionaires to help fund public goods, such as affordable housing and public transport. The environmental organization emphasizes that these flights account for a disproportionate share of aviation emissions and contribute significantly to climate inequality.
The trend of using private jets for leisure travel was particularly evident in Mediterranean destinations such as Spain, where Mallorca, Ibiza, and Malaga ranked among the top five airports for private jet arrivals in 2023. Geneva, Zurich, and London were identified as the main origins for these flights, further confirming the shift from business to pleasure travel.
According to Greenpeace, private jet flights not only cause 10 times more pollution per passenger kilometer than commercial flights, but they are also primarily used for journeys of less than 500 kilometers. The environmental organization stressed that such short-haul flights are especially detrimental and unnecessary given the availability of lower-carbon alternatives.
Despite the concentration of private jet traffic in Mediterranean summer destinations, Alpine regions such as Geneva and Salzburg saw increased private jet activity during the winter season, particularly around ski resorts. Additionally, Canary Islands airports like Tenerife South and Gran Canaria experienced peaks in arrivals between autumn and spring when temperatures are milder than in continental Europe.
The private jets report concludes that without significant policy changes to curb private jet emissions, the disparity between the ultra-wealthy and the rest of the population will continue to grow, exacerbating the impacts of the climate crisis. With private jets being labeled as the “most unequal, divisive, and polluting” form of transport, Greenpeace is urging immediate action to address the environmental and social consequences of their use.
