Private jets ‘used like taxis’ are making huge contribution to climate change

Almost half of all private flights travelled less than 500km (310 miles) - (Getty Images)

An increase in private jet flights contributed to a 46 per cent rise in the industry’s annual carbon dioxide emissions between 2019 and 2023, say climate scientists.

New research published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, analysed the habits of 18,655,789 private flights over four years to understand the role of private aviation in climate change.