Private jets often receive negative attention, but one company is working on making them more environmentally friendly.

Environmental advocates have long pointed out the private aviation industry’s significant role in global carbon emissions, and last week, climate activists grabbed headlines by disrupting a private jet expo in Switzerland.

Due to their typically shorter flight routes, private jets are less fuel-efficient and produce far more emissions per passenger. Research from the European organization Transport and Environment shows that private jets can be up to 14 times more polluting than commercial flights and 50 times worse than trains.

Despite the environmental concerns, the private aviation sector has experienced impressive growth in recent years. A report from the Institute for Policy Studies highlighted a 133% increase in the global fleet size since 2000, with record-setting years in 2021 and 2022.

A study commissioned by Greenpeace revealed that private jets in Europe alone released 3.39 million metric tons of CO2 in 2022, equivalent to the yearly emissions of 753,000 gasoline-powered cars in the U.S.

Experts believe that while the sector faces challenges, it can still play a pivotal role in the fight against climate change, with some industry leaders exploring new ways to minimize its environmental footprint.

As a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Dubai-based private aviation firm Jetex is working towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, alongside other major airlines.

Founded in 2005 by CEO Adel Mardini, Jetex has expanded globally, employing 750 people across numerous private terminals, including those in Dubai, Miami, Paris, and Beijing.

In partnership with oil company Neste, Jetex began offering sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in 2021 at its Helsinki Airport terminal, made from renewable waste and residues. The same year, the company also introduced SAF from French firm TotalEnergies at its Paris Le-Bourget Airport terminal, produced from used cooking oil.

Although the supply of SAF is limited and not available at every airport, Jetex is committed to expanding its use, aiming to offer it as a sustainable fuel alternative at all of its global locations.

"We are always looking for ways to collaborate with everyone to minimize the impact of climate change on our lives and future," Mardini shared with Dinogo, adding that Jetex aims to transform all its locations into fully sustainable, green private terminals.

Fuel Shortage

In 2021, aviation was responsible for more than 2% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. However, the IATA projects that SAF could cut CO2 emissions by up to 80%, and it will play a critical role in helping the sector meet its 2050 net-zero emissions goal.

The main obstacle, however, remains the scarcity of SAF, according to Dr. Suzanne Kearns, an aviation professor at the University of Waterloo in Canada.

"We anticipate that sustainable aviation fuels will account for 60 to 70% of emissions reductions in the aviation sector. But the challenge is that SAF is currently two to eight times more expensive than conventional fuels, and its availability is still limited, making it unavailable at many airports," Dr. Kearns told Dinogo.

She suggests that if the private aviation sector adopted SAF early on, "economies of scale could make the fuel more affordable, and the advantages would extend to other areas of the aviation industry."

While SAF is still not available at every airport, Jetex recently signed an agreement with 360 Jet Fuel Ltd to make SAF available to passengers worldwide. Through the 'Book and Claim' system, travelers can pay for SAF at participating airports and offset some or all of the traditional fuel used on their flight, even if their departure airport doesn't have SAF in stock.

The adoption of SAF in private aviation is gradually growing. For instance, UK-based jet charter platform Victor has teamed up with Neste and recently revealed that 20% of its customers are voluntarily using SAF for their flights, employing a Book-and-Claim-style system it refers to as 'pay here, use there.'

"Pure green"

Jetex announced plans last year to introduce the world's first 'pure green' private terminal at Berlin's Neuhardenberg Airport, which is home to one of Europe's largest solar farms.

"The airport's solar farm will meet all of its energy needs, and we plan to use electric vehicles to ensure zero-net carbon emissions," said Mardini.

While its Berlin terminal is still under construction, Jetex has begun making gradual changes to some of its other locations, including those in Dubai, London, Paris, and Singapore, with the goal of turning them into fully 'green' terminals by the end of 2024.

Looking to the future, Jetex is investigating the use of electric aircraft and has formed strategic partnerships with urban air mobility companies like Volocopter and Eve Air Mobility to fast-track the development of eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, also known as flying taxis.

eVTOL aircraft, which have a shorter range than private jets, would be used for short city-to-city flights, potentially providing a more eco-friendly alternative for celebrities who have faced criticism for taking private jets on brief trips.

"There are some truly exciting innovations happening within private aviation," Dr. Kearns noted.

"These eVTOLs are central to the vision of advanced air mobility," she explained. "These aircraft will transport people through urban spaces without the emissions associated with traditional aviation fuel."

This entire sector is growing at an incredible pace, and it's thrilling because private aviation is at the forefront, leading the way in reimagining what a sustainable future for air travel could look like.