Business and first class passengers, as well as private jet users, could potentially face a new “solidarity levy” of approximately £500, as proposed by the UN Cop30 summit in Belem, Brazil. This measure aims to address the significantly higher emissions per passenger generated by these luxury modes of travel compared to basic economy class.
The governments of France, Spain, and Kenya have called for a specific focus on premium flyers, with the proceeds from the levy being directed towards “resilient investments and fair transitions. ” However, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has quickly dismissed this idea from the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force as “crazy.
According to the task force’s submission to Cop30, implementing a global levy on premium flyers and private jets could potentially raise €78bn (£68bn) per year. In 2024, IATA reported that 117 million travelers flew in premium classes. Additionally, a Swedish researcher’s analysis showed that emissions from private jets have increased by nearly 50% in the four years leading up to 2023.
While the exact number of passengers flying on private jets is not clear, it is estimated that around five million such flights were made in 2025. Assuming an average of four passengers per aircraft, this adds an additional 20 million individuals who could potentially be affected by the levy.
If the levy were to be applied equally to each passenger, it would result in an extra cost of approximately £500 per person for these luxury flights. The task force emphasizes that the aim of this measure is to have a minimal impact on households and businesses while maximizing the potential impact of the revenue for climate and development initiatives.
According to the task force, a significant portion of the revenue raised through this solidarity levy would be used domestically, including in developing countries, where it could contribute to enhancing domestic resource mobilization to support climate and development priorities.
However, Thomas Reynaert, senior vice president for external affairs at IATA, argues that this proposal is “crazy” and questions its timing at Cop30. He believes that it is not a viable solution to the emissions problem and that airlines have already made considerable efforts towards reducing their carbon footprint.
Under the international framework called the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (Corsia), airlines have committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Additionally, they have pledged to contribute up to $60bn (£47bn) in climate finance.
Mr.Reynaert explains that this new tax would be counterproductive and not address the root of the issue. Instead, he suggests that Corsia is the real instrument to decrease emissions and that the industry should continue to work towards this goal.
Interestingly, the United Nations’ travel policy, published in 2013, states that UN staff are entitled to travel in business class for single-leg journeys lasting nine hours or more, or for multi-leg journeys with a combined travel time of 11 hours or more.