[imagesource: Aero]

Flying commercial comes with many pitfalls.

There’s the airport security experience to contend with, along with airport crowds, flight rage, and being in a tight space with people who can be prone to misbehave.

Not everyone can afford the luxury of a private plane, but one can clearly see how it’s the more attractive option.

The privileged private traveller gets protection from other passengers, but they also get to skip queues and essentially board and take off at their leisure.

Most of the time, they don’t even set foot in the terminal building, getting driven to the plane’s door in a limousine where they are greeted with a glass of champagne before settling into a plush, reclinable chair.

You get the picture.

It’s not this:

Image: Getty

The fact that private jets continued to fly during the COVID-19 pandemic, while commercial airlines were forced to the ground, meant that the use of private planes really soared.

2021 was a record-breaker for the industry, per the BBC:

Last year there were 3.3 million such flights around the world, the most on record, according to aviation data research firm Wingx. This figure was 7% higher than the previous high seen in 2019, with the US and Europe leading the growth.

Ian Moore, the chief commercial officer of the private plane business, VistaJet, has more:

The Malta headquartered global firm has 73 aircraft, and Mr Moore says that demand from customers increased by 26% last year in Europe, and by 21% for the rest of the world.

He adds that 71% of the firm’s incoming requests are from passengers who were not previously regular users of private aviation.

Private flying is in such high demand that some companies are running out of aircrafts and struggling to produce more to keep up.

Then there’s also the issue of fuel, which as we all know, has had prices skyrocket beyond affordability for most.

On the downside of private air travel, it has a massive impact on the environment:

 They are five to 14 times more polluting than commercial airlines on a per passenger basis, according to cleaner transport campaign group Transport & Environment.

Anna Hughes, director of Flight Free UK agrees, saying that now more than ever we need to question whether private jets are an appropriate form of transport:

“No offsetting scheme can make up for the huge emissions of taking a private flight. Trees take a long time to grow, but flight emissions are immediate. The most reliable way to reduce emissions from flights remains the simplest one – fly less.

“Being able to fly in a private jet is a huge privilege, and as humanity faces up to the climate crisis we should be using our privilege not to harm others.”

Yeah, it’s nice to travel without the usual hassles or be able to move your precious pet on a safe, secure flight around with you, but it doesn’t seem all that sustainable.

At least that’s my excuse.

[source:bbc]