On Saturday night, an earthquake monitoring station in Edinburgh, Scotland picked up a tremor. It was caused by 75,000 Taylor Swift fans jumping at a concert 3.5 miles (6km) away. Swift’s Eras Tour has set seismic records around the world – in Seattle a concert registered the equivalent to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake.

You would have to be fearless or foolish to attack Swift.

But this week, in the early daylight, two environmental protestors from Just Stop Oil cut through the fence surrounding the UK’s Stansted Airport. Their aim was to paint Swift’s gorgeous aircraft. They did not find it. Instead, they sprayed orange paint on two private jets and demanded an emergency treaty to end fossil fuels by 2030. They were arrested. The aircraft are no doubt clean now.

This is not the first time that pressure groups have criticised Swift’s jet use and tried to make her an anti-hero. But going after her reputation  could be a mistake. She is Miss Americana. A 2023 survey by Morning Consult said that 53% of adult Americans are Swift fans. Some 44% described themselves as Swifties. These mega-fans know her love story. They followed her flight back from Tokyo on a business jet to watch her lover Travis Kelce win the Superbowl with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The day before the protestors attempted to paint her jet, Just Stop Oil was widely condemned for painting some of the Stonehenge ancient stone circle orange, damaging rare delicate lichen.

In its wildest dreams, business aviation could not have picked a better role model. Swift uses business aviation to travel around the world in style, creating a gold rush in every country she performs in.

Sweden’s core inflation rose by 3% in May, with many blaming this on cash brought into the country by Swift’s fans (her friend Beyoncé also did this last May). A Bloomberg survey of economists estimated that just the five concerts in Singapore added between $225m and $300m (SGD400m) to the country’s economy.

Nomura estimates that the 53 concerts that made up the first US portion of the Eras Tour generated $5bn and raised US GDP by 0.02%. Ticket prices rose so high that many American fans are flying around the world to watch her.

We know all too well that this economic argument will not satisfy business aviation’s critics. At Corporate Jet Investor London green activists and politicians argued that business jets should be banned because of inequality as much as environmental effects (and that the two are linked – see below). It is champagne problems as much as carbon. There is nothing new about this argument.

“I think that’s where we should focus our attention in terms of conversation, as opposed to trying to fight off either those early adapters or the naysayers,”

At EBACE Michael Amalfitano, president of Embraer Executive Jets, said the industry should focus on winning the argument outside minorities. “You start to see the movable middle. I think that’s where we should focus our attention in terms of conversation, as opposed to trying to fight off either those early adapters or the naysayers,” he said. “It’s education. It’s collaboration.” The industry needs to fill that blank space.

Swift already buys carbon credits, but there is also the opportunity to publicise Sustainable Aviation Fuel. In 2019 Coldplay, a UK popular music group, said it would stop touring because of sustainability concerns. The band’s cardigan-wearing fans were delighted when it re-started concerts in 2022 after agreeing a deal with Neste to use SAF made from used cooking oil on its flights (not everyone agreed).

By targeting the enchanted Swift and her fans, protestors have pushed Amalfitano’s middle towards business aviation’s greatest ambassador. Ironically, one of the arrested protestors actually met Swift on a past UK tour. She knew better than to try to disrupt a concert. There would have been bad blood everywhere.

PS: Real Swifties should be able to spot at least 22 song titles in this piece.

The Green Party, Possible and Safe Landing were invited to Corporate Jet Investor London 2024 to explain why they believe that business jets should be banned. They did not hold back.

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Protests against private jets, airports and trade shows, such as EBACE 2023, seem to be growing apace – mainly (but not exclusively) in Europe. It’s been matched in Europe by an apparent growing frustration at the industry’s vulnerability to such action.

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) told CJI last month of its “increasing concern” about the implications of destructive and disruptive airport protests for the broader aviation industry. “The EBAA calls upon the individual members states to actively prosecute those individuals who knowingly breach and enter secured airport spaces,” a spokesman told us. “We acknowledge and respect the public’s right to protest, but activism should not compromise the safety of passengers, crew, and airport personnel.”

Social media posts about the topic on LinkedIn by EBAA, Globe Air and CJI drew hundreds of responses. Here’s a flavour: “It’s ludicrous that an industry body has to remind law makers/enforcers that individuals who commit criminal acts need to be effectively punished,” wrote Tim Barber, Aircraft Sales and Acquisitions EMEA & Asia, Duncan Aviation. “A criminal act is a criminal act regardless of the cause.”

Frans Dechaene, director of Operations at European charter operator FlyingGroup noted: “When a pilot wants to access his/her aircraft he/she has almost to undress at ‘security’. Whereas the same airports allow gangs of eco terrorists to swarm across the runway and close down an entire airport, at the same time damaging precious aircraft. Where is this madness heading to?”

GlobeAir’s LinkedIn post on our story about airport security proved particularly popular, drawing more than 100 responses. “GlobeAir is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our passengers, crew, and airport personnel. Recent developments have highlighted the increasing concern about disruptive airport protests affecting the broader aviation industry,” it posted on LinkedIn last month. “While we respect the public’s right to protest, activism must not compromise the safety and functionality of airports.”

It’s activism that is leading to more protection for principals, planes and the airports that serve them, according to MedAire, the security, medical and travel consultancy. “We have observed an increase in both the frequency and intensity of protests targeting the business aviation sector,” Jeremy Knochel, global security manager, Aviation & Maritime, MedAire told us. “Activists have caused significant damage to private aircraft, resulting in substantial financial losses.”

GlobeAir’s LinkedIn post on our story about airport security proved particularly popular, drawing more than 100 responses. “GlobeAir is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our passengers, crew, and airport personnel. Recent developments have highlighted the increasing concern about disruptive airport protests affecting the broader aviation industry,” it posted on LinkedIn last month. “While we respect the public’s right to protest, activism must not compromise the safety and functionality of airports.”

It’s activism that is leading to more protection for principals, planes and the airports that serve them, according to MedAire, the security, medical and travel consultancy. “We have observed an increase in both the frequency and intensity of protests targeting the business aviation sector,” Jeremy Knochel, global security manager, Aviation & Maritime, MedAire told us. “Activists have caused significant damage to private aircraft, resulting in substantial financial losses.”

There’s a growing list of airports targeted by protests – and not all of them are in Europe. In February this year, a coalition of protestors targeted London Luton Airport, Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam and Bromma Airport in Stockholm. It followed protests against private jets in Brussels, Seville and Los Angeles. High profile attacks have also taken place in northern Germany, at EBACE 2023 in Geneva and in July, on an Embraer Phenom 300E on the Mediterranean holiday island of Ibiza.

These were not isolated incidents but evidence of a rising tide of protest, according to MediAire. “We anticipate that these protests may escalate in frequency, disruption and damage to the aviation community,” said Knochel.

It’s not just a case of beefing up security at airports that cater for private jets – although that can be a key step. “In Europe and North America, most small airports have robust security measures in place but there can be gaps due to the less stringent regulations compared with commercial airports,” said Knochel.

Another part of the remedy is more comprehensive risk assessment and enhanced protection for principals, planes and airports. “It’s crucial to proactively gather information about potential protest activity in the area that could disrupt operations. This includes creating contingency plans for potential disruptions and conducting pre-travel briefings to ensure all crew members and guests understand the appropriate responses to protestors,” he said.

The British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) has suggested nine general strategies that airports and authorities might employ to deter disruptive airport protests. The top four are: designated protest areas, clear communications, engage with protestors and increased airport security.

Could the rising tide of protests against private jets, their owners and operators plus the airports from which they fly drive a hike in insurance premiums? While there’s no evidence of that, industry insiders don’t discount the possibility.

Todd Guelich, senior vice president at insurance firm AssuredPartners Aerospace reports no underwriter concerns related to the airport incursions by the protesters yet. However, that could change. “I would not expect to see any defined reaction to sporadic activity,” he tells CJI. “But should there be a trend related to defined airports where losses can be tracked frequently, there could be some form of deductibles or location surcharges considered.”

Admittedly, most people in business aviation are more concerned about white tails with wings rather than their ungulate namesakes. But from today, the white-tails in North Dakota (and some other states) can expect to endure the fire of hunters until at least January 1st 2024, when the season closes. It looks like the private jet industry – on both sides of the Atlantic – will have to endure attacks from environmental protestors for much longer than that.

Above: White-tailed deer are now  in the firing line in North Dakota.

Top: So, too are private jets. This was pictured at EBACE 2023.

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