The private jet footprint in Europe and Spain
As Europe confronts rising temperatures, emissions from private aircraft keep climbing. In 2022 the number of private-jet flights across Europe jumped by 64% to 572,806, signaling that CO2 output could double to about 3.3 million tonnes. That level mirrors the annual emissions of roughly 555,000 residents in the European Union or the combined yearly outputs of cities like Lisbon, Manchester, or Malaga. Spain stands among the top four EU nations for private-aircraft use in this period.
A study funded by Greenpeace urges a ban on private jets as a way to curb this trend. Over the past three years Europe has logged 1,041,640 private flights, releasing about 5,377,851 tonnes of CO2. The report frames private aviation as a luxury use of energy that undermines public climate effort and public support campaigns have grown in response.
Research shows that 55% of European private-jet flights in the previous year were short or very short, under 750 kilometers, for trips where rail or ferry options could have been competitive without adding travel time. About 15% were under 250 kilometers in distance.
Spain ranks fourth among EU nations for private flights, with 45,633 departures last year, following the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Nearly 8% of Europe’s private-jet activity in 2022 originated from Spain.
Analyses by CE Delft, a Dutch environmental consultancy, show that private departures from Spain rose from 26,239 in 2021 to 45,633 in 2022 — a 74% jump in a single year. Consequently, CO2 emissions escalated from 126,786 tonnes in 2021 to 243,851 tonnes in 2022.
The Ibiza–Palma corridor in Spain
Among Spanish airports, Palma de Mallorca handles the most executive-aviation movements, followed by Ibiza. In Europe, Palma and Ibiza ranked ninth and tenth in total moves, respectively, with Madrid–Barajas also among the higher-volume airports for private traffic.
There were 7,932 private flights from Palma de Mallorca, 6,606 from Ibiza, and 6,237 from Madrid-Barajas. The Ibiza–Palma route was among the ten busiest European private-jet corridors in the year in review, within the Eurocontrol network.
“With the world facing a global energy crisis and climate challenges that threaten livelihoods, it is time to end private-jet travel, the most unfair and polluting form of transport,” said Cristina Arjona, coordinator of Greenpeace Spain’s mobility campaign. “Banning private planes would mark a meaningful step toward climate justice for European citizens,” she added.
Further, the investigation identified Nice, Paris, and Geneva as the top European private-jet destinations, and the busiest routes were Paris–London, Nice–London, and Paris–Geneva. Some of these routes offer direct rail connections of less than 3.5 hours and multiple daily departures, suggesting rail alternatives can significantly outperform short private flights.
The numbers for shorter routes are even more striking. Routes under 100 kilometers, such as Maastricht–Liège (32 minutes by train), Brussels–Antwerp (40–50 minutes), Nice–Cannes (about 30 minutes), Amsterdam–Rotterdam (around 40 minutes), Geneva–Chambéry (about one hour and nineteen minutes), and Zürich–Basel (roughly an hour), illustrate the viable rail options that can replace most short private flights.
Pollution and policy: private jets versus trains
Greenpeace criticizes private jets as a mode of transport that is both highly polluting and poorly regulated within the EU. They describe private aviation as the most energy-wasting and least equitable way to travel per passenger kilometer. Observers note that private jets emit far more CO2 per passenger than commercial airliners and far more than trains, highlighting the need for tighter regulation and reform of this sector.
Greenpeace cites estimates that private-jet emissions per passenger range from five to fourteen times higher than those of commercial flights and as much as fifty times higher than trains. In 2022 the average CO2 emission per private-jet flight in Europe was about 5.9 tonnes, comparable to driving a petrol car around 23,000 kilometers or taking multiple Paris–Rome trips by car.
The organization argues that a large share of aviation emissions is concentrated among a small, wealthy portion of the global population, while a vast majority has little to no air travel yet bears the climate burden. They urge citizens to conserve energy and advocate for a fair transportation system that minimizes needless private jet use.
More than sixty percent of global oil consumption occurs in transport sectors. Greenpeace also points to the stark contrast between rising private-jet activity and the broader research warning about escalating CO2 levels, urging immediate reduction of emissions to prevent a climate crisis from worsening.
Clarity about the broader impact remains essential: the growing private-jet trend in Europe sits at odds with public climate goals and equitable transport principles. Advocates stress policy action that discourages frivolous private flights while preserving essential movements and sustainable alternatives.
Spain’s data in context
Spain ranks fourth in Europe for private jets by annual departures, recording 45,633 flights in 2022 and representing about 8% of Europe’s private-jet activity. Estimates show CO2 from Spanish private flights in 2022 reached around 243,900 tonnes, marking a 92% increase from the prior year. Over the 2020–2022 period, private-aircraft emissions in Spain summed to approximately 389,000 tonnes.
Major Spanish airports for private aviation in 2022 were Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, and Madrid–Barajas. Notably, the shortest high-activity private-jet connection identified involved the link between Santiago de Compostela and La Coruña, a rail alternative at roughly 30 minutes for the same distance.
For further context, the Greenpeace report highlights English-language reference materials and a Spanish summary that outline the emissions data, along with notes about medical-related private movements. The core takeaway remains: private aviation in Spain — and Europe more broadly — has significant climate implications that warrant policy attention and practical, rail-oriented travel alternatives.
In summary, Spain sits near the top of the European list for private-jet movements. The data show rapid growth in aviation emissions from private flights, reinforcing calls for stronger regulation, a shift toward rail alternatives, and a reconsideration of the role private aviation should play in a climate-conscious transport system. A balanced approach could preserve essential mobility while reducing environmental impact, moving toward a fairer, more efficient travel model.