CJI London: Industry faces ‘tsunami’ of political targeting
Business aviation faces an intensifying “tsunami” of political targeting, from punitive taxes to existential regulatory threats, according to industry leaders speaking at CJI London 2026.
The sector must urgently “hit the reset button” on its narrative or risk being defined by its critics, warned Aoife O’Sullivan, partner at Keystone Law and chair of the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA).
“We advise some of the biggest businesses on the planet on acquiring aircraft as tools to grow their operations,” she stated. “Yet a handful of activists gluing themselves to the M25 get more press coverage. There’s something wrong with that.” She emphasised the need for louder, prouder communication to showcase the industry’s economic contribution and sustainability work.
France exemplifies the fiscal targeting, according to Charles Aguettant, president of EBAA France. “Aviation has become an easy source of revenue,” he said, detailing new passenger taxes on business jets ranging from €210 to €2,100 per person for long-haul flights. Through sustained lobbying, the message that 75% of passengers travel for business and 10% of traffic is medical evacuation is finally reaching politicians, he noted, but the process is slow and the sector still faces operational bans during French ATC strikes.
Another global threat is the proposed ‘Global Solidarity Levy on Premium Flyers’. Kurt Edwards, director general of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), explained it targets first-class, business-class and business aviation passengers to raise climate funds. “There is no transparency, no defined tax rate, no impact assessment,” he said, noting the levy could theoretically wipe out airline profits.
From the operator perspective, Carmen Mungia, director of aircraft sales and acquisition at Gestair, said owners feel increasingly exposed. “They are targeted publicly, asked to justify usage, questioned about offsetting.” Most are proactively using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and offsets, she added, with environmental compliance now a standard part of acquisition talks.
In the EU, the regulatory wave is “relentless”, said Róman Kok, director of public affairs and communications at EBAA. Beyond implementing RefuelEU, the sector is fighting an Energy Taxation Directive that would penalise Jet A1, and a crucial court case next week against the EU Taxonomy, which excludes business aviation from sustainable finance definitions. “If we are not hopeful, there’s no point getting up in the morning,” he noted.
