Each Private Jet Flight Emits Tens of Tons of Carbon... Controversy Over Stars' 'Jeonyonggi'

Top Stars Recklessly Use 'Jeonyongi' Even for Short Distances
They Deliver Environmental Protection Messages but Actually Emit Carbon Dioxide with Private Jets

Kylie Jenner using her private jet. Photo by Kylie Jenner Instagram

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] Celebrities are being criticized as major contributors to global warming due to their use of private jets. Private jets emit over 2 tons of carbon dioxide, releasing 5 to 14 times more pollutants than commercial aircraft flying long distances.

◆ Celebrity Private Jet Carbon Emissions... More Than 480 Times That of an Average Person

Billionaire and famous model Kylie Jenner named her private jet "Kylie Air" and often shared videos of herself using the jet on Instagram and YouTube. However, it was revealed that Kylie Jenner frequently uses her private jet for flights under 15 minutes.

A Twitter account that reveals celebrities' private jet flight paths disclosed that the route taken by Kylie Jenner's jet was about 64 km from Camarillo to Van Nuys, California, a distance that takes only 40 minutes by car. The account also revealed that singer Drake and director Steven Spielberg recently took private jet flights lasting less than 30 minutes.

Singer Taylor Swift used her private jet 170 times in the first half of this year alone, emitting a total of 8,293 tons of carbon dioxide. This earned her the dishonor of being the celebrity who emitted the most carbon dioxide this year. Another reason she faced criticism is that in a 2020 interview with the American media outlet , she expressed concern about climate change. Fans expressed disappointment, saying "she is two-faced."

Recently, the UK marketing company Yard investigated the carbon emissions from private jets used by celebrities worldwide. It was revealed that the total emissions reached 3,376.64 tons, which is 480 times the average annual carbon dioxide emissions of an ordinary person.

Due to the reckless use of private jets by top stars, fans criticized, saying, "What’s the point of reducing plastic use and recycling if one person emits more carbon dioxide in a 10-minute flight than an average person does in a year?"

◆ Increase in Private Jet Use After the Pandemic... What Are the Solutions?

Private jet use has increased since COVID-19. According to FlightRadar24, the number of private jet passengers this year has risen nearly 30% since 2019. Industry insiders analyzed that people turned to private jets to avoid infection or schedule disruptions caused by flying with many passengers, and because airlines have suspended short-haul routes.

Private jet rental fees vary depending on the size of the aircraft and the route, ranging from $3,000 (about 3.92 million KRW) to $10,000 (about 13.08 million KRW) per hour. Even non-celebrities seeking customized private jets are using group purchases or short-term rentals to access private jets. The private jet brokerage company JB Jets revealed that 75% of its customers are first-time users.

Meanwhile, as environmental pollution caused by private jets continues to be raised, the industry is making efforts to offset emissions. XO collects 'climate change response donations' from passengers, and Jet Aviation stated that it uses some low-emission fuels and reduces single-use plastics. However, among citizens, there are calls to "stop using private jets altogether to prevent carbon emissions" and to "apply carbon regulations to private jets as well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.