ICCT Study Finds Private Jet Emissions Outpaced Heathrow in 2023 | Aviation International News

Sustainability and Environment

Study: Private Jets Outpaced Heathrow Emissions in 2023

Private aviation accounts for about 4% of civil aviation emissions

Tail of Gulfstream in hangar — © Photo by BABIX VISUALS

By Amy Wilder • Writer

July 3, 2025

Private jets emitted an estimated 19.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2023, according to a newly released study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). The report marks the first comprehensive global emissions inventory for private aviation, which accounts for nearly 4% of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from civil aviation.

Researchers used a combination of global ADS-B flight tracking, airport geolocation, and engine emissions databases to estimate aircraft activity and assign emissions by airport and country. The study, “Air and greenhouse gas pollution from private jets, 2023,” found that private jet emissions increased by 25% over the past decade. It also compared private jet emissions to all flights departing London Heathrow Airport, finding that global jet emissions trumped those of the international hub for the year.

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