'Ground the jets' — EU lawmakers take aim at luxury flights in energy crunch

Published on 23/04/2026 - 12:56 GMT+2

Several MEPs from the Greens/European Free Alliance radical person called connected the European Commission to enforce a impermanent EU-wide prohibition connected non-essential backstage pitchy travel, citing mounting unit connected energy supplies and rising substance costs crossed Europe.

The entreaty comes successful the aftermath of a crisp surge successful planetary lipid prices pursuing the blockade of the captious Strait of Hormuz shipping lane amid the ongoing struggle successful the Middle East. The summation successful lipid prices is the steepest since Russia’s amerciable full-scale penetration of Ukraine successful 2022.

Jet substance shortages person been successful the spotlight, with the aviation assemblage bracing for wide disruption and airlines informing of hundreds of regular flight cancellations during the upcoming summertime season. Against this backdrop, the Green MEPs reason that continued unrestricted usage of backstage jets represents a glaring inequity.

Addressing wealthiness inequality

“While millions of radical are wondering however they volition spend their commute, backstage jets proceed to instrumentality disconnected arsenic if thing is happening. This shows precisely who is expected to wage for this situation and who is not,” said Austrian MEP Lena Schilling.

In their missive to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas dated 22 April, the MEPs picture backstage pitchy question arsenic “one of the astir carbon-intensive and socially inequitable forms of transport".

They accidental that portion households and businesses are being asked to reduce their vigor consumption, a affluent number continues to devour disproportionate amounts of fuel.

The radical of MEPs is urging the Commission and EU countries to instrumentality contiguous action, including introducing a temporary prohibition connected backstage pitchy flights for non-essential purposes during the vigor crisis. They besides suggest restricting backstage pitchy arrivals and refueling from non-EU countries and establishing strict criteria to specify indispensable use, limiting it to emergencies, aesculapian needs and captious authorities functions.

“In this crisis, everyone is being asked to chopped back. But if the load falls lone connected mean people, that is not solidarity, it is plain injustice. If we are superior astir redeeming energy, we indispensable commencement wherever depletion is astir extreme, with the super-rich and their backstage jets,” says Schilling.

The Commission announced a broad acceptable of measures connected Wednesday meant to supply short-term alleviation to susceptible households and businesses from soaring vigor prices, efficaciously placing the load connected consumers to alteration behaviour by reducing vigor request oregon utilizing authorities schemes specified arsenic societal tariffs and VAT reductions.

A accidental for EU countries to amusement solidarity

MEPs are demanding that their connection beryllium included successful a bundle of energy-saving measures expected to beryllium discussed astatine an informal gathering of EU vigor ministers successful Cyprus connected 13 May.

“Moments of situation request governmental clarity and fairness,” the MEPs wrote, informing that failing to stock the load accordingly risks undermining nationalist spot and societal cohesion. “Allowing a privileged fewer to proceed concern arsenic accustomed weakens the credibility of European values.”

The signatories accent that decisive enactment connected backstage pitchy usage would amusement the EU’s committedness to solidarity and enactment during a play of economic strain.

The European Commission acknowledged the missive and said it volition respond "in owed course".