The Great Aviation Race. How To Get To Jet Zero By 2050

It was an otherwise straightforward deal. A company founder in the US had called on Paul Jebely, Withers' global head of aviation and marine, to advise on the purchase of a private jet. The aircraft would save the founder a significant amount of time while travelling between business and personal interests around the world. 

As the legal team were kicking the tyres on the contract, however, the entrepreneur became concerned about the carbon footprint of private aviation. “After considering it further, the founder decided to walk away – even though it meant possibly losing a seven-figure deposit (which we ultimately avoided) – solely because of environmental and reputational concerns the founder had about owning a jet,” says Paul, who adds "that was a first for me but perhaps not the last."