Private jets pollute up to 14 times as much as commercial planes and are undertaxed in US, report says
Number of private jets has surged in recent years, but they do not pay commensurate portion of fees to FAA operations
TL;DR
- Private jet travel has rapidly expanded in the US, with emissions rising by 50%.
- Private jet owners, with a median wealth of $190m, pay less than 0.6% of taxes into the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, despite representing 7% of airspace activity.
- Private flights are 10 to 14 times more polluting per passenger than commercial aviation.
- Fractional jet ownership increased by 6% between 2019 and 2025.
- Lobbying efforts, including $2m spent by the National Business Aviation Association in 2025, have secured tax breaks for private jet owners.
- Critics argue that public tax dollars should not subsidize the luxury travel of the wealthy, especially given the climate crisis.