Although fewer private aircraft fly compared to commercial jets, the carbon pollution is more. According to the study, private jets emit at least 10 times more pollutants than commercial planes per passenger.

On an absolute basis, a single commercial airliner emits significantly more CO2​ than a private jet because of its massive size and fuel consumption. However, when measured per passenger, private jets are far more environmentally damaging. Research in 2026 indicates that private jets are approximately 10 to 14 times more polluting per passenger than commercial flights and 50 times more polluting than trains. Because a private jet often carries only one to four people while burning hundreds of gallons of fuel, the carbon footprint of each individual on board is staggering. Furthermore, private jets are frequently used for very short "positioning" flights—trips under 300 miles that could easily be handled by ground transport—which are the most inefficient phases of flight. While the global private fleet is smaller than the commercial one, its disproportionate impact on the atmosphere has made it a focal point for environmental regulations and "carbon-shaming" movements among climate activists worldwide.