Ministers plan to investigate 'carbon tax' on private jets

Wednesday 29 November 2023

Ministers are keen to investigate whether a 'carbon tax' should be applied to private jets – to help pay for Jersey's £300m transition to net-zero.

A newly submitted amendment to the Government Plan, which is due for debate next month, calls for the "investigation of the introduction of an appropriate carbon tax or charge relating to the operation of private aircraft".

The report accompanying the amendment, which is backed by the full Council of Ministers, notes that, as part of the financial strategy backing the Carbon Neutral Roadmap, around £300m will need to be identified over the next 30 years.

It explains that this will include adopting a "polluter pays" principle when developing new taxes or charges, citing a 2021 study which found that private jets are 5 to 14 times more polluting than commercial planes.

"As part of the policy work which will be undertaken in 2024 to identify new revenue generating polluter pays measures, we will investigate the introduction of an appropriate carbon tax or charge related to the operation of private aircraft," the report states.

"This exploratory work will consider the optimal approach to establishing a proportionate tax or charge which balances the significant environmental impact of private aircraft travel, with the important role private aviation plays in servicing the Island as a hub for business and leisure," it continues.

The amendment comes just months after business jet operator and handling agent Gama Aviation applied to planning to construct a hangar and "fixed base operation" on the site of the now-demolished cargo centre at the Airport.

Gamma Aviation announced their plans to build a 60,000 sq ft hangar at the airport earlier this year.

However, the government's report states that, while the majority of the island’s aviation operations relate to scheduled passenger and freight flights, Jersey’s "business aviation" sector and the operation of private jets "make a disproportionate contribution to our emissions".

It adds: "As an Island which has declared a Climate Emergency and committed to reach net zero by 2050, applying a polluter pays principle to one of the most carbon intensive forms of transportation, is the right thing to do.

"In commencing this work, a precise definition of ‘private aircraft’ will need to be developed in consultation with the sector. There will naturally be a need to establish appropriate exclusions to ensure that vital operations such as the air ambulance are not impacted. The intention would be to exclude members of Jersey Aero Club and users of sustainable aviation fuel from any tax or charge introduced."

The Assistant Minister with responsibility for carbon neutrality initiatives, Deputy Hilary Jeune, previously told Express of her hopes to introduce 'polluter pays' charges.

“Speaking personally, top of my list should be a charge for private jets, followed by something on fuel for marine leisure craft. But I am but one voice and it will be for the Council of Ministers to decide," she commented in September.

The previous Government considered whether islanders should have to pay a 'holiday tax' when they travel away from the island in future to generate money to combat the effects of climate change locally.