Should private jets be allowed?
Some say private jets are useful, others say they are wasteful.
Last year, world leaders travelled from lots of countries to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to talk about climate change at COP28. To get there from the UK, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary David Cameron and King Charles III all travelled in separate private jets. Many people criticised this and said they were setting a bad example. According to research by The Guardian newspaper, since the start of 2022 the private jets of just 200 celebrities produced as much carbon dioxide as 40,000 average British people would in the same time period. However, some people argue that it’s the most practical and safe way for important world leaders to get to their destinations. What do you think? Should private jets be allowed?
Yes – they are practical for some people
For people who use private jets, it’s often the most practical way to get around. World leaders, for example, often have lots of important meetings, conferences and events to attend, all over the world. They don’t have time to wait for normal flights or take long train journeys. Flights on private jets are also a way to protect high-profile people. It’s not particularly safe for King Charles or Rishi Sunak to travel on a normal plane with lots of other people. It makes sense for them to travel alone with security. If they travelled on a standard plane it could cause extra security checks and disruption. Besides, if people have earned their money and want to spend it on a private flight, they should have the freedom to do so.
No – there are other ways to travel
Flying has a big impact on the planet but private jets tend to produce more carbon dioxide than normal flights. This is because they are luxurious, so they often weigh more than they need to, which means they need extra fuel. Also they often only take short trips and they only carry a few people, which is wasteful. There’s no need for private jets when there are so many options. People can take a train or travel on a standard flight. Besides, it’s not fair that the rich travel in luxury when others have to queue at airports or squash onto busy trains. Billionaire businessman Elon Musk took a private jet flight every two days in 2022. If he had to travel like everyone else perhaps he’d take fewer journeys and cause less pollution.