Premier League clubs flight shame

23 March 2023

“No wonder it’s called the topflight! To see so many needless, extremely short-haul flights happening week in week out in the midst of a climate challenge just isn’t acceptable, especially when there are trains and coaches that could be used for the same journeys. Footballers have tremendous influence. It would be great to see players taking a stand here and for the Premier League to start following the example of lower league clubs by using trains and coaches instead.”

Campaign for Better Transport is calling on the Premier League to do more to reduce football’s impact on the climate by:

• Taking action to reduce the number of short-distance domestic flights – both private and chartered – taken by premier league clubs by making the train or coach the default travel option
• Requiring all clubs to publish an annual report detailing the number of flights taken each season.

The transport charity is also calling on the Government to do more to reduce emissions from domestic aviation by:

• Reversing the upcoming cut in Air Passenger Duty (APD) for domestic flights
• Introducing a domestic flight reduction target to help reduce carbon emissions from aviation
• Introducing a new ‘super’ rate of Air Passenger Duty – set at ten times the current higher rate of APD – for all private jet passengers
• Applying VAT to each and every private flight.

A new ‘super’ rate of APD could raise around £1.4 billion each year and VAT added to private flights would raise a further £79-623 million annually.

ENDS

Norman Baker is available for interviews. For further information please contact the press office on 07984 773 468 (calls only no texts) or communications@bettertransport.org.uk

Notes to Editors

1. The cut to Air Passenger Duty (APD) on domestic flights comes into effect on 1 April.
2. A new ‘super’ rate of APD, charged at ten times the current higher rate per passenger, on all chartered flights would raise:

3. In 2021, there were 135,505 private aircraft movements (arrivals and departures). If VAT was added to each movement, then revenue raised would be between £78,592,900 and £623,323,000 depending on aircraft sizes.
4. Air Passenger Duty (APD) is applied to passengers of private jets and small aircraft weighing 5.7 tonnes or more which depart from a UK airport. It is calculated per passenger and in bands, according to journey distance. Private jet passengers pay the standard rate, the same as business and first-class passengers. A further higher rate applies to aircraft of 20 tonnes or more and fewer than 19 passengers. The duty is paid by the aircraft operator and added to the charter price. Flights from the Scottish Highlands and Islands are not subject to APD, regardless of aircraft weight.

5. Only a small number of domestic private flights have Value Added Tax (VAT) applied, generally those using small helicopters or propeller aircraft. Larger private aircraft and planes used for international flights, even if the flight itself is domestic, are VAT exempt.
6. According to data published by T&E, the UK is responsible for more carbon emissions from private jets than any other European country and, together with France, is responsible for almost 40 per cent of emissions.
7. Private jets are between five and 14 times more polluting than commercial planes (per passenger), and 50 times more polluting than trains, and they are twice as likely to be used for short trips (less than 300 miles), compared to flights in commercial aviation.
8. Campaign for Better Transport operates in England and Wales. Campaign for Better Transport’s vision is for all communities to have access to high quality, sustainable transport that meets their needs, improves quality of life and protects the environment. Campaign for Better Transport Charitable Trust is a registered charity (1101929).