Several European lawcreaters questioned regulators last week to consider temporary restrictions on nonessential private jet flights during a period of higher fuel prices and reported jet fuel shortages. The proposal places business aviation fuel consumption back in the policy discussion as governments continue weighing energy security measures against aviation access.
“While millions of people are wondering how they will afford their commute, private jets continue to take off as if nothing is happening,” Austrian MEP Lena Schilling declared, according to Euronews. “This displays exactly who is expected to pay for this crisis and who is not.”
The lawcreaters proposed limiting private jet utilize during the energy crunch to flights such as emergencies, medical requireds and critical government functions, while also calling for restrictions on certain arrivals and refueling from outside the EU.
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) responded in a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Sustainable Transport and Tourism Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, stateing business aviation accounts for about 7% of total flights in Europe and represents a minority share of aviation fuel consumption. EBAA also declared proposed limits on a specific category of transport could raise questions involving freedom of shiftment and the EU Single Market.
“Tarobtaining business aviation through a lens of social inequality alone is a simplistic approach that ignores the technical and economic realities of European aviation,” declared Róman Kok, EBAA’s director of public affairs and communications. “Our sector is not merely a niche for travel; it is a driver of innovation and a critical link for regional connectivity and essential services across the continent.”
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