Charity calls for private jet ‘super tax’ to fund UK public transport

The Campaign for Better Transport (CfBT) is calling on the UK government to introduce a “super tax” on private jet travel, saying it could fund public transport projects across the country.

The charity claims the tax could raise £1.4 billion (US$1.59 billion) each year – equal to the annual maintenance costs for Network Rail, the public body that oversees rail infrastructure in the UK.

“Private jets are hugely damaging to the environment and are the preserve of the super-rich,” said Norman Baker, CfBT’s Director of External Affairs.

“We think it’s about time that these individuals started paying for the damage their flights cause and the proceeds used to help improve public transport for communities up and down the country.”

The charity estimates that private jets are between five and 14 times more polluting than commercial flights and 50 times more polluting than taking a train.

Air Passenger Duty

Currently, private jet passengers are charged the same Air Passenger Duty (APD) rate as business or first-class passengers, with a higher rate applied to an aircraft of 20 tonnes or more with less than 19 passengers onboard.

CfBT is calling for a “new super rate of APD” on private jet travel set at ten times the current higher rate for domestic and European trips. It would apply to all private jet passengers regardless of the size or capacity of the aircraft or distance travelled.

In addition, the charity said Value Added Tax (VAT) should be charged each time a private jet lands or takes off, regardless of size or distance travelled, which would raise a further £79-623 million.

“With the UK responsible for 19 percent of Europe’s carbon emissions from private jets – more than any other European country – Campaign for Better Transport is calling on the government to ensure that private jets pay for the pollution they cause and that the money is invested into public transport services,” the group said.

European trends

Last month Belgium announced it would impose new taxes on older, noisier planes as well as private jets and short-haul flights.

Currently, aircraft using Brussels Airport have to pay a tax determined by the noise level generated at take-off and landing – but until now, small planes such as private jets have been exempt.

As of 1 April 2023, taxes will not only be dependent on noise, but also air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and the destination of the flight.

Taxes on flights shorter than 500 kilometres will also increase.

“The noise pollution experienced by residents near Brussels National Airport, whether they live in Flanders, Brussels or Wallonia, cannot remain as it is,” Georges Gilkinet, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister said in a statement.

In December, France banned short-haul domestic flights between cities that are linked by a train journey of less than 2.5 hours.

The decision was made as part of the country’s 2021 Climate Law and was first proposed by France’s Citizens’ Convention on Climate – a citizens’ assembly tasked with finding ways to reduce the country’s carbon emissions.

In practice, the ban will only affect three routes operating between Paris Orly and Nantes, Lyon and Bordeaux.

Image: Victor (Flickr)