The report analyses potential sustainable alternatives to kerosene-based fuels and finds that there is no realistic or scalable alternative that would meet current aviation needs. It concludes that private jet expansion, even with alternative fuels, is not defensible and should be considered by policymakers with great caution.

Private jets emit 10 to 20 times more pollutants per passenger than commercial planes. 

As consumers and policymakers look to reduce fossil fuel emissions, the aviation industry recognizes that emissions are a barrier to expansion and is increasingly marketing new commitments to sustainability. Specifically, the development of a less-polluting alternative to fossil jet fuel, commonly referred to as “sustainable aviation fuel” or SAF. 

The report finds that there is currently no realistic or scalable alternative SAF that would meet current aviation needs (let alone the industry’s projections of growth) and that SAFs remain a speculative solution at best. The report's authors suggest policymakers should assess the claims and commitments of private aviation interests with caution and focus on lowering aviation demand.

Key findings

• Sustainable aviation fuels are critical to the aviation sector’s vision for growth, but not realistic.
• Scaling up SAF production may thwart emissions reduction goals as well as food security. 
• Realistic increases in SAF production are decades off.
• The aviation industry has a 20-year history of missing its SAF production benchmarks. 
• The cost of SAF infrastructure and production will require massive subsidies.
• The aviation industry is already lobbying to weaken standards and sustainability definitions.

Recommendations include

• Reject the inclusion of ethanol-based fuel as a SAF.
• Impose more severe penalties for greenwashing and false advertisements.
• Increase private jet fuel taxes. 
• Ban short hop flights.
• Increase transparency of private jet ownership and flying activity.