Switzerland is a paradise for private jets, says report
The use of private jets has taken off, especially in the Alpine country. According to a report, Switzerland ranks second behind Malta for private jet flights per capita. Their excessive use is extremely damaging to the environment, says Greenpeace.
This content was published on
2 minutes
SonntagsZeitung/RTS/sb
Español
es
Suiza es un paraíso para los jets privados, según un informe
In 2022 a total of 35,269 private jet flights – approximately 100 per day – were recorded in Switzerland, according to a Greenpeace-commissioned surveyExternal link, cited in a Le Matin Dimanche/SonntagsZeitung reportExternal link on Sunday. Switzerland was ranked sixth behind the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
On a per capita basis, Switzerland, with its population of 8.7 million, was second behind Malta with 4,054 flights per million inhabitants in 2022. Private jets fly about three times as often per capita here as in France or England – and almost six times as often as in Germany, Le Matin Dimanche/SonntagsZeitung reported.
According to a studyExternal link by the American think tank Institute for Policy Studies, the number of private and business jets has more than doubled globally over the past 20 years and the pandemic has further accelerated this growth.
Private flights also have significantly higher emissions per passenger kilometre than other modes of transport. The Transport and Environment NGO calculates that private jets are 5 to 14 times more polluting per passenger than commercial flights, and 50 times more polluting than trains. Some private jets emit two tonnes of CO2 per hour, while the carbon footprint of inhabitants of the EU27 was equal to 6.8 tonnes of per person in 2019 (Eurostat, 2022).
In 2022 the 35,269 private flights in Switzerland generated 166,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, the survey found.
In the report, Greenpeace Switzerland calls for a ban on private jets. Meanwhile, the Swiss industry association for private and business aviation underlines that private flights generate tens of thousands of jobs and billions in added value.
More
More
The Swiss firm that wants to power planes with green jet fuel
This content was published on
The Swiss company Synhelion is developing the world’s first industrial-scale plant to produce synthetic fuels from CO2, methane, water and sunlight.
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
Nestle Chair says CEO change was prompted by growth concerns
This content was published on
The abrupt replacement of Nestle SA’s chief executive officer was prompted by worries over the food and beverage company’s growth outlook, Nestlé Chair Paul Bulcke told Swiss newspaper Le Temps.
Four out of five donor hearts for Swiss children come from abroad
This content was published on
Four out of five donor hearts which are transplanted into Swiss children come from outside the Alpine country, according to the director of Swisstransplant.
Climber dies on the Matterhorn in southern Switzerland
This content was published on
A climber died on Thursday after falling with a partner while descending the Matterhorn, near Zermatt, in southern Switzerland. The other mountaineer suffered minor injuries.
This content was published on
The Dalai Lama has arrived in Switzerland for a short visit. Hundreds of Tibetans welcomed him at an airport hotel in Opfikon, near Zurich, on Friday.
Sudan: Swiss among mediators calling for continuous flow of aid
This content was published on
The seven parties, including Switzerland, who led ten days of talks on Sudan in the Geneva region, are calling for the new flow of aid to “continue and accelerate”.
Coo d’état: Basel struggles to enforce pigeon-feeding ban
This content was published on
Police in the Swiss canton of Basel City have issued only eight fines since the ban on pigeon feeding came into force in July 2020.
Nestlé CEO Schneider was ousted, paving way for veteran Freixe, sources say
This content was published on
Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider was ousted in a sudden move by the world’s biggest foodmaker as a result of the group’s underperformance.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
The Swiss firm that wants to power planes with green jet fuel
This content was published on
The Swiss company Synhelion is developing the world’s first industrial-scale plant to produce synthetic fuels from CO2, methane, water and sunlight.
Switzerland removes taxes from revised CO2 law proposal
This content was published on
Switzerland presents new plans to slash CO2 emissions with a changed focus on economic incentives, rather than fossil fuel taxes.
Environmental activists block private jets at Geneva airport
This content was published on
Extinction Rebellion has taken its civil obedience to the Geneva airport where some 100 people are blocking the private jet terminal.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.