Ex-transport minister calls for 'super APD' to fund greener travel

Norman Baker, who served in the coalition government from 2010 to 2013, argues private jets are much more polluting than commercial airliners and should pay more in APD.

Baker, now director of external affairs for the Campaign for Better Transport, said private jet passengers were charged the same rate of APD as business or first class passengers, with a higher rate only applied to aircraft of 20 tonnes or more with fewer than 19 passengers onboard. 

He said: “We think that private jet passengers ought to be subject to a higher rate of APD, a ‘super’ rate if you will, set at 10 times the current higher rate for domestic and European trips – which would apply to all private jet passengers, regardless of the size or capacity of the aircraft or distance travelled.

Baker said European private jet carbon emissions had increased by 31% since 2005, with the UK responsible for 19%, more than any other European country.

He added: “Private jets are hugely polluting, releasing between five and 14 times more harmful emissions per passenger than a commercial flight and 50 times more than the equivalent train journey.

“Private jets are twice as likely than commercial flights to be used for very short trips (less than 300 miles), this despite high-speed train connexions existing on 70 to 80% of the top ten most popular private jet routes in Europe. 

“At these short distances, planes are at their least efficient, thereby increasing the climate impact of these flights. In just one hour, a single private jet can emit two tonnes of carbon dioxide. To put that into perspective, the average person in the EU only emits 8.2 tonnes over an entire year.”

Baker added he also wanted VAT applied each time a private jet lands or takes off, regardless of size or distance travelled, with money reinvested in other forms of transport.