The Institute for Policy Studies report High Flyers 2026 finds private jets produce direct carbon emissions 10 to 14 times greater per passenger than commercial flights and that emissions from private aviation rose about 50% in recent years. The institute built a Private Jet Emissions Tracker with more than 20,000 open-source trackers to analyze private flights at major events and airports and reports private jets and charter services now make up roughly 16% of flight operations handled by the Federal Aviation Administration. The US Department of Transportation estimates noncommercial private jets represent 7% of airspace activity but contribute under 0.6% of taxes to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. The report says roughly 256,000 people use private flights, representing about 0.003% of the world population, and that the median wealth of a private jet owner is $190 million; fractional ownership rose 6% between 2019 and 2025. The report highlights lobbying and tax policy favorable to owners, noting the National Business Aviation Association spent about $2 million lobbying in 2025 for legislation providing major tax breaks. Report co-author Chuck Collins said taxpayers should not subsidize what he called the "luxury excess of the private jet billionaire class." The boom in private aviation is driving demand for more infrastructure, including expanded private hangars and greater runway capacity at local and regional airports.
