According to research conducted by Greenpeace, more private planes took off from the UK than any other nation in Europe in 2022, with one taking off every six minutes.
An increase in private jet usage of 90,256 flights last year resulted in the emission of 500,000 tonnes of CO2. According to aviation experts, the UK boasts the most flights, emissions, and busiest, most carbon-intensive routes.
The study was conducted by Dutch environmental consultants CE Delft using information provided by Cirium, a provider of aviation analytics.
In 2020, 2021, and 2022, they examined private-aircraft traffic across Europe and discovered 1,041,640 flights in total, producing 5,377,851 tonnes of CO2 — an amount equivalent to Leeds’ whole yearly emissions.
Greenpeace wants private jets to be outlawed. According to the international environmental advocacy group, 39 per cent of flights throughout Europe last year were deemed “very short haul”, covering less than 500km, making them easily accessible by train.
Which route was the most popular?
With 3,357 flights last year, the route between London and Paris — for which there is also the option of travelling by rail, with Eurostar trains running between 10 and 15 times each day —was the most popular.
What was the most polluting route?
The Hampshire route between Farnborough and Blackbushe airports had the worst pollution levels; it is less than five miles long and can be covered on foot in just over an hour-and-a-half, according to Google Maps.
According to the study, 13 flights on this route totalled 23 tonnes of CO2, which is roughly the same as driving 50,000 miles.
These trips, according to researchers, were probably conducted for placement, which is when an airplane is transported to another airfield to start its main flight.
Until 2022, 1,343 flights were operated between Farnborough, which bills itself as the “business gateway to Europe and beyond”, and different London airports.
