Does Private Jet + Around the World = Green?
At first I thought it must be an April Fool's joke. A green round-the-world trip by private jet? But Safari Air, the company behind this supposedly eco-friendly venture, is serious. They think that by simply offsetting the carbon emissions of the flights, their passengers' consciences will be clear. Think again.
Responsible travel is about a light footprint. A trip by private jet is anything but. The eight passengers who will fit on board Safari Air's Gulfstream IV would do much better to book economy-class tickets on a commercial airline: The more bodies you pack onto a plane, the fewer the harmful emissions per passenger. I also wish Safari Air's itinerary involved a little more time at each destination; as is, tour participants will jump from one iconic sight to the next (the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids) in just three weeks, as if these were merely items on a to-do list. Will they witness the gut-wrenching poverty just outside the gates of the Taj Mahal, or will they be whisked from their five-star hotel to the Taj's back entrance in an air-conditioned Mercedes, every beggar kept more than arm's reach away?
The only thing green about Safari Air's round-the-world trip is the price tag: $144,500 per person. For that kind of money, you could take a completely comfortable and much more green trip with one of the honorees in Condé Nast Traveler's World Savers Awards . . . and still have enough left over to build a school in Tanzania or a medical clinic in Indonesia.
Further reading:
* Carbon offset kiosks are coming to SFO
* Join the Condé Nast Traveler Challenge and tell us how travelers can contribute meaningfully to the lives of local people
* Responsible Traveler: Making a difference
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As the owner of a Private Jet Charter firm we offered the option of purchasing a carbon off-set package with every flight and never sold one. It cost us money to offer the program so it didn't make sense. There are many benefits to private travel but don't expect that you can justify it beyond convenience, privacy, time schedule, etc...
Posted by: exquisiterena | March 03, 2010 at 02:18 PM
As the owner of a Private Jet Charter firm we offered the option of purchasing a carbon off-set package with every flight and never sold one. It cost us money to offer the program so it didn't make sense. There are many benefits to private travel but don't expect that you can justify it beyond convenience, privacy, time schedule, etc...
Posted by: exquisiterena | March 03, 2010 at 02:18 PM
As the owner of a Private Jet Charter firm we offered the option of purchasing a carbon off-set package with every flight and never sold one. It cost us money to offer the program so it didn't make sense. There are many benefits to private travel but don't expect that you can justify it beyond convenience, privacy, time schedule, etc...
Posted by: exquisiterena | March 03, 2010 at 02:18 PM
Why is flying on a private jet with a carbon offset somehow unacceptable? Is it better to fly and not TRY to help the environment?
As for the charter operator who replied no less than three times, optional carbon offset charges are the norm in Canada and Europe. Perhaps you should market the option better??
I pay more to charter with a "green" flight department. There's no reason to overlook the benefit of flying with a company who acknowledges these flights have an effect on global warming and who are willing to get in front of the criticism and make a difference.
Posted by: greenflyer123 | March 21, 2010 at 12:23 AM
Yes, the private jet can chartered not only for luxury or business purpose, but it can be also used for cargo purpose.
http://www.247jet.com/
Posted by: privatejet | July 22, 2010 at 02:37 PM