With the Cannes Film Festival set to kick off today, ex-pilots and millionaires are calling for governments to halt private jet flights.
It comes as new data has estimated that two million litres of kerosene were burned flying the rich and famous to and from the festival last year.
Around 750 private flights jetted to and from Cannes Film Festival in 2025, releasing emissions comparable to 14,000 passengers on commercial return flights from Paris to Athens, new figures from T&E show.
Now, stars are being urged to follow the example of actor Pedro Pascal, who flew economy to Cannes last year, or take the train wherever possible, amid warnings that aviation fuel shortages will impact millions of European holidaymakers as early as June.
Former pilots have been calling out the ‘reckless excess’ of allowing private jet flights to continue when fuel reserves are needed for vital services such as emergency healthcare, disaster relief, humanitarian aid and defence.
Two thirds of private jets and all international flights are currently exempt from carbon taxes under current EU rules.
With Cannes typically causing a huge spike in private jet traffic, ex-pilots have been calling to suspend private flights while the fuel crisis is ongoing.
Katie Thompson, a former private jet pilot, said: ‘If last year is anything to go by, we will yet again see the world’s film stars burning two million litres of fuel at Cannes Film Festival this year.
Celebrities are being discouraged from flying to the Cannes Film Festival by private jet
Pedro Pascal, who flew economy to Cannes last year, has set the example
Former pilot Katie Thompson believes there is no reason for stars to use private planes
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‘With climate change accelerating, this reckless excess is outrageous, especially now when limited available fuel is desperately needed elsewhere for basic food production, disaster relief efforts, and other humanitarian emergencies.
‘There is absolutely no excuse to be flying around on a private jet with multiple crises unfolding in front of our eyes.
‘Last year, Pedro Pascal flew to Cannes in an economy seat. There’s no reason the rest of them can’t do the same, or take the train where possible. After all, we are all in this together.’
The former pilots are also demanding the EU to close the glaring loopholes that allow many of the wealthiest to dodge fuel taxes.
They are calling on the European Union to close the loopholes in the carbon tax Emissions Trading System that exempts two thirds of private jets and all international flights from paying the carbon tax that every commercial passenger flying within the EU pays.
Anthony Viaux, a former Air France pilot of more than 20 years, said: ‘As a pilot, you have a front-row seat to climate change.
‘The rich and famous burning through scarce fuel to get to a film festival isn’t just tone deaf, it’s obscene. We’re calling on policymakers to ground all private flights with immediate effect.
‘And the EU needs to close the loopholes to make sure that all private jets and international flights are subject to carbon taxes in future.
‘EU policymakers shouldn’t let Trump’s administration dictate the rules. It’s time to be bold and make sure the rich pay their fair share.’
Even the uber-wealthy have nodded in agreement.
Julia Davies, We Have The POWER co-founder and member of Patriotic Millionaires UK, said: ‘Private jets are a luxury only the very wealthiest few can afford, yet most of these flights are still not subject to fuel or carbon taxes – taxes the majority of people pay every day as they travel to work.
‘Right now, amidst a fuel and accelerating climate crisis, fixing this means two things: grounding private jets to protect fuel for vital services including ambulances and making sure that private jets pay at least the same taxes as a care worker pays travelling to vulnerable clients.’
Many of the film festival’s attendees travel in by private jets or luxury yachts, with travel accounting for 93 per cent of the festival’s total carbon footprint by its own estimate.
Should celebrities be forced to give up private jets during a fuel crisis to set an example for us all?
New data has estimated that two million litres of kerosene were burned flying the rich and famous to and from the festival last year
Ex-pilot Anthony Viaux says the use of huge amounts of fuel as a result is ‘obscene’
Cannes festival organisers have celebrated efforts to upcycle red carpets and reduce paper printouts and single-use plastic waste at the festival.
But tackling the environmental impacts of travel remains a major blindspot.
Jérôme du Boucher, deputy director of aviation at T&E, said: ‘Everyone loves the glitz and glamour of Cannes Film Festival, but the fossil fuel crisis now brings the issue of jet fuel consumption around the festival into focus.
‘We’re calling on the festival organisers to work harder to incentivise cleaner forms of travel in coming years so that stars come in by train rather than private jet wherever possible and fly on commercial airlines where necessary.
‘In the meantime, there’s no excuse for governments not to ground private jets entirely given the fuel crisis, and use the upcoming Emissions Trading Scheme review to ensure they contribute to public coffers by paying carbon taxes in future.’
