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A new analysis by Greenpeace is putting a spotlight on the disproportionate climate impact of luxury air travel. According to the report, First- and Business-Class flights generate several times more greenhouse gas emissions per passenger than seats in Economy — and the organization is urging policymakers to act.
Luxury Seats, Outsized Emissions
The study finds that First Class passengers are responsible for five times, and Business Class passengers for four times, the emissions of someone flying Economy on the same route. Although premium passengers make up only about 14 percent of long-haul travelers departing from Europe, they account for over one-third of the total climate-damaging emissions on those flights.
Greenpeace argues that this imbalance highlights a structural injustice in aviation emissions — and calls on Austria’s Transport Minister Peter Hanke to introduce significantly higher taxes on luxury flights.
Greenpeace: “Luxury flights fuel the climate crisis”
Jasmin Duregger, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace Austria, emphasized the scale of the problem. She noted that a single Business-Class flight from Vienna to New York emits roughly as much CO₂ as an average person produces in an entire year.
Duregger criticized the fact that these high-emission flights still benefit from tax exemptions, such as the lack of kerosene taxation. She urged the government to end what she calls a “climate injustice” by implementing a fair flight levy targeting premium travel classes.
Why Premium Seats Pollute More
The analysis, conducted by T3 Transportation for Greenpeace, estimates that at least 19 million First-, Business-, and Premium-Economy tickets were sold for long-haul flights from Europe last year.
The reason for the higher emissions is structural:
- First and Business Class cabins typically have a maximum of four seats per row
- Economy cabins can have up to ten seats per row
Fewer passengers sharing the same aircraft space means higher emissions per person, making luxury flights one of the most climate-intensive forms of travel.
A Tax Proposal With Billions in Revenue
Greenpeace is calling for a Europe-wide levy on premium flight tickets:
- €340 per First-Class ticket
- €220 per Business-Class ticket
- €75 per Premium-Economy ticket
According to the organization, such a tax could generate at least €3.3 billion annually — without increasing costs for the vast majority of travelers.
- Hector Pascua/picture: pixabay.com
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