Private jets pollute up to 14 times as much as commercial planes and are undertaxed in US, report says

Number of private jets has surged in recent years, but they do not pay commensurate portion of fees to FAA operations A new report has put a spotlight on the rapid expansion of private jet travel in the US, revealing that private jet owners are not paying their fair share of aviation tax despite the average owner’s wealth being $190m and private jets being up to 14 times more polluting than commercial flights. The Institute for Policy Studies’ new report, High Flyers 2026, examines the growing use of private aircraft, the public infrastructure supporting them and the tax policies benefiting private jet owners. Continue reading...

Marina Dunbar · Fri, Sep 18, 2026, 5:00 AM
US news | The Guardian

Private jets pollute up to 14 times as much as commercial planes and are undertaxed in US, report says

Number of private jets has surged in recent years, but they do not pay commensurate portion of fees to FAA operations

A new report has put a spotlight on the rapid expansion of private jet travel in the US, revealing that private jet owners are not paying their fair share of aviation tax despite the average owner’s wealth being $190m and private jets being up to 14 times more polluting than commercial flights.

The Institute for Policy Studies’ new report, High Flyers 2026, examines the growing use of private aircraft, the public infrastructure supporting them and the tax policies benefiting private jet owners.

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