As the corporate world focuses more on sustainability, EAs with globetrotting execs may be thinking about a review of their use of private aviation. Executive PA spoke to Tim Rees, flight director at private jet charter company Jet Members, to get some insights…
“Having arranged private charter flights for nearly twenty years, I would say companies consider the sustainability aspect of chartering to be as crucial as the price. It’s a regular discussion point at any major aviation trade show and will remain so for the years ahead.
As the industry becomes a target for environmental campaigners, a proactive approach is needed to reduce/eliminate any impact on the environment. But one fact to highlight (that may seem surprising) is that the current cost of carbon offsetting is lower than many people anticipate. This is due to it being a voluntary payment.
For example…
A Light Jet six-seater aircraft from London to Paris would emit about 1.34 tonnes of carbon (based on calculations from U.S Energy Information Administration). This equates to a cost of between £7 to £8 to carbon offset. Using a larger aircraft could see an increase of 3.5 times more to £28. So, select your aircraft wisely – especially for longer trips.
Something else gaining traction is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
As the name suggests, this (still relatively new concept) has a much lower carbon footprint than traditional aviation fuel. But it comes with two problems:
- It’s more expensive than current carbon offsetting programs.
- It has a limited distribution network. But there are ways of purchasing it virtually through a ‘book and claim’ process.
These problems may ease if/when production and distribution improves.
Right now, everything mentioned above is voluntary to become sustainable
Despite efforts – such as complimentary carbon offsetting – by those in the market, I believe an environmental fee/tax/restriction will likely come into private aviation at some point. Given that the private aviation industry is worth nearly $44 billion, it’s a considerable target.
The question is, if governments want to neutralise carbon emissions, what would be the best way to implement it without potentially significant ramifications?
Italy, for example, has implemented Italian Luxury Taxes as an additional fee per passenger on private jets. This can be as high as €200 per passenger… That’s why it is important to clarify the number of passengers expected to travel.
France recently banned inter-domestic flying altogether (if the trip can be performed by train). This could be something to watch out for as it may seriously limit your exec’s logistical options!
Outside of political or monetary intervention, technology could help improve electric flying vehicles in the medium- to long-term. Still, I don’t expect that to be an immediate success due to the operational requirements and licenses needed for commercial operations. But it could well be another step in the right direction…”