How do private jets emit more greenhouse gas than commercial jets?

Question

I still can’t wrap my head around the physics. Commercial jets weigh more than private jets and carry much more people (which also contributes to the extra weight)

Doesn’t that mean the plane would have to do extra work to move around, and thus consume more fuel as an energy source?

Shouldn’t that make them emit more gases as end products of combustion?

In: 0

Answer 1

Private jets carry significantly fewer people so their emissions/passenger mile is much higher.

The commercial jet may be four times the mass, but it’s carrying fifty times as many people.