It is difficult to write about the popularity of private jet travel without making some folks apoplectic at the cost to the planet and others green with envy.

Yet the global private jet industry was valued at $27bn in 2023 and projected to grow to $56.4bn by 2033. This is an annual growth rate of 7.6 per cent and it means that this is a significant global industry employing large numbers of people across a whole raft of disciplines. 

We still live in a free market economy where it is considered acceptable to amass wealth. Governments could eliminate the billionaire class by introducing massive tax hikes, but they generally don’t. So, private jet travel exists and will grow. 

Private aviation supports approximately three million jobs globally. Greenpeace’s policy director, Dough Parr, says: “If the government is serious about net zero and a fair transition to low-carbon transport then private jets should be first on the chopping block.” 

Greenpeace commissioned research on private jet emissions and found that they accounted for less than two per cent of the total emissions by all commercial aviation, which accounts for less than two per cent of total global emissions. Banning private jets is not going to save the planet, and private jet ownership and the charter of private jets by the wealthy is increasing. 

George Galanopoulos, CEO of Luxaviation UK, one of the UK’s leading private jet charter operators, points out that Covid was a watershed for the industry. 

“During the pandemic, we saw an influx of new clients turning to private aviation who had not considered flying privately before. They were outside of our traditional high-net-worth individuals. They were families who could afford to fly privately but had not considered chartering before. In the summer of 2022, 25 per cent of our bookings were from new users, and many of them have remained customers,” he says.

Galanopoulos says the industry is benefiting from “the rise of younger jet travellers and aircraft owners”. 

“As generational wealth is transferred, and Gen Z’s influence expands across the tech and social media sectors, we’re seeing an increased interest in private travel from this demographic.”

A lot of the heat about private jet travel is based on the idea that much of this travel is for leisure rather than business. However, time-poor executives find jet use can improve productivity.

Pascal Bachmann, Senior Vice President of Sales, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, at Jetcraft, one of the biggest private jet brokers, says: “Buyers in the UK largely come from the finance, energy and entertainment industries. Many of these individuals begin their journey to aircraft ownership after experiencing air charter, which offers first hand experience of private aviation, before making a full commitment. 

During the pandemic, we saw an influx of new clients who had not considered flying privately before – George Galanopoulos

“Over time, transitioning to owning their own jet becomes a strategic decision. For these business leaders, time is a precious commodity and is essential for cross-continental connectivity. Commercial air travel doesn’t as easily accommodate their business needs.”

Glenn Hogben, CEO of the Air Charter Association in the UK, says the private jet sector is focused on the need to bring down its carbon footprint. 

“The air charter sector has been leading the change to more sustainable aviation for many years. The UK DfT Jet Zero Consultation in 2021 confirmed that between 2010 and 2019, the industry achieved a 20 per cent reduction in emissions due to efficiency improvements and is continuing at a 2 per cent reduction per annum.”  

The air charter industry is also leading technology development to improve sustainability, with the use of composite materials, sustainable fuels and winglets to improve fuel efficiency.

Beyond Aero, a Toulouse-based  pioneer in hydrogen-electric aviation, is developing the first electric business aircraft using hydrogen propulsion, and expects to have certification for use by 2030.

 Sustainability was highlighted as the single most important factor affecting the industry in 2025, according to a survey of air charter professionals.