The social movement, flygskam, Sweden for Flight shame, has been increasing its momentum since 2018 in Europe, more so in recent years thanks to people becoming more environmentally conscious after the pandemic. So much so that many countries are setting laws and restrictions on airlines to reduce CO2 emissions. The movement hasn’t reached the US yet but even then, US Business jet owners face criticism and backlash.
This was the case in the summer of 2022 when American Icon Kylie Jenner posted a picture with her boyfriend, singer Travis Scott on a runway featuring their private jets along with a Rolls Royce automobile. The backlash followed when the Twitter account @Celebjets revealed that she took a 17-minute flight on her Bombardier 700 that could’ve been a 30-minute drive.
But not all US jet owners follow these celebrity trends. The business aviation industry is well aware of the impact that jets have on the environment and many aviation entities have begun looking for ways to compensate for their carbon footprint or reduce it.
“In September 2020, VistaJet announced its new partnership with SkyNRG, the global leader for SAF, which plans to reduce carbon emissions by up to 85 per cent. Through the collaboration, VistaJet suggested a new flight management system, which reduces fuel consumption by optimising route, level and speed; a booking strategy that reduces unnecessary repositioning of flights and fuel burn. Within eight months of launching the plan, 80 per cent of VistaJet members opted in to compensate for their fuel emissions. ”
Currently, commercial and private plane manufacturers are racing against time to reduce their CO2 emissions to keep flight shaming from becoming more popular and escape laws and regulations. Alternatives like Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) are already being implemented within the industry. Canadian manufacturer, Bombardier took matters into their own hands and created a new plane model, read our article “A Greener Future” to learn more.