In July 2022, Kylie Jenner became the face of a debate about private jets and climate. Social media accounts that track celebrity aircraft highlighted a series of very short flights by her Bombardier Global 7500, and the headlines followed.
What was reported
According to reporting at the time, including by the Daily Mail, the jet flew from Palm Springs to Van Nuys in about 35 minutes on July 15, 2022, then from Van Nuys to Camarillo two hours later in about 12 minutes. Two days earlier it had flown Camarillo to Van Nuys in about 17 minutes. The story spread quickly after she posted a photo with Travis Scott and two jets asking "You wanna take mine or yours?"
Within days, other celebrities' short flights were in the news too, and private aviation became a lightning rod for climate criticism.
What the headlines missed
Tracking data shows aircraft, not passengers. Public flight data records where an aircraft goes, not who is on board. Industry observers pointed out that the shortest hops, such as Van Nuys to Camarillo, have the hallmarks of repositioning flights: an aircraft moving without passengers to an airport where it is hangared, maintained or parked. Hangar space for an aircraft the size of a Global 7500 is scarce at busy Los Angeles airports.
Some flights save a lot of time. Driving from Palm Springs to the San Fernando Valley can take three to four hours in traffic. A 35-minute flight is a genuine time saving, which is exactly why people fly privately.
Scale matters, but so does efficiency. Business aviation accounts for roughly 2% of aviation's carbon emissions, and aviation as a whole for about 2 to 3% of global CO2. That does not make every flight justifiable, but it puts the debate in context.
What it means for charter customers
The episode is a useful reminder of how private aviation works, and how to fly more responsibly:
- Empty legs exist because aircraft must reposition. Filling them, as an empty leg charter, puts a flight that would happen anyway to good use, often at a big discount.
- Choose the right-sized aircraft. A light jet burns a fraction of the fuel of an ultra long range jet. Our range explorer helps you find the smallest aircraft that does the job.
- Consider alternatives for very short trips. For hops under about 100 miles, a helicopter or a car may be faster door to door and far more efficient.
- Ask about sustainable aviation fuel and offsets. Many FBOs now supply SAF blends, and verified carbon offset programmes are widely available. Ask your advisor to include them.
The bottom line
Private aviation's value is in saving time and adding flexibility. Used thoughtfully, with the right aircraft and good planning, it does both. That is the kind of advice we aim to give on every trip. Compare the options with the charter flight cost calculator, or talk to an advisor.