Background
In response to the 2023 Government plan amendment, and aligned to the Ports Policy Framework, Ports of Jersey has worked collaboratively with key stakeholders (including Ministers, States Members, Government of Jersey officials, local business aviation and charter management companies) to explore the best way for Ports of Jersey to use its tariff structures at Jersey Airport to support the decarbonisation of the airport operations.
Following public consultation and approval from the JCRA, Ports of Jersey is introducing a decarbonisation charge structure from 1 May 2025, to incentivise sustainable behaviours and provide essential funding to support the implementation of the policy goals contained in the Ports Policy Framework relating to sustainability. Revenue generated by the charge will be ring-fenced solely for the delivery of the decarbonisation of Ports of Jersey activity
The Treasury Minister has endorsed the introduction of the charge by Ports of Jersey, and recommended to the Council of Ministers that work on a new carbon tax is paused to allow time for the Ports charge to be introduced, monitored and evaluated.
Overview
All private and business aviation aircraft over 3 tonnes must pay a separately identifiable decarbonisation surcharge, which will be added to movement charges. The different charge levels are set out below.
This decarbonisation charge is applicable for all private and business aviation over 3 tonnes landing at, and taking off from, Jersey Airport.
It does not include:
- Commercial airline aviation
- Military aviation
- Medical evacuation flights
- Search and Rescue aircraft
- Aircraft under 3 tonnes
Those registered with a Ports of Jersey account are eligible to apply for a discount if they can demonstrate the sustainable behaviours outlined below.
Level of charge
The decarbonisation charge amount has been set to provide an incentive to encourage sustainable behaviours, without overly causing a negative economic impact to the Island.
For comparison, the French Government have recently introduced a tax on private and business aviation, at a minimum of €420 per passenger, up to €2,100 per person for international flights. As outlined below, the Jersey Airport’s decarbonisation charge is significantly lower than this, along with the additional benefit of income being ringfenced solely for decarbonisation initiatives.
Jersey Airport fees and charges are determined by the aircraft’s Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW); consequently, the amount for the decarbonisation charge is also contingent upon MTOW.
With the decarbonisation charge (100% of the movement fee plus the price increase in 2025 of RPI + 1.8%) an aircraft of the same weight will pay a decarbonisation charge of £35.70, bringing the total fee to £71.40.
The purpose of the charge is to encourage more sustainable behaviours by private and business aviation operators. If the level of the charge is not effective in delivering more sustainable practises (which can be evidenced), or the aircraft/operator does not have a Ports of Jersey account, a further charge of 150% of the 2025 movement fee will be applied in 2026, bringing the decarbonisation charge to £53.60 (plus any price increases in line with the Ports of Jersey Pricing Framework).
Conversely, if the aircraft / operator does submit evidence of sustainable behaviours, the decarbonisation charge would remain at 100% of the movement fee. An example of a 6-tonne aircraft that does not apply for a discount for sustainable behaviours is shown below:
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026+ | |
| Movement fees (subject to change in line with Ports of Jersey pricing framework)
|
£34 | £35.70 | £35.70
Subject to change in line with Ports of Jersey pricing framework |
| Decarbonisation charge | £0 | £35.70 | £53.60
Subject to change in line with Ports of Jersey pricing framework |
| Total cost per movement | £34 | £71.40 | £89.30
Subject to change in line with Ports of Jersey pricing framework |
An example of a 6-tonne aircraft that does apply for a discount for sustainable behaviours
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026+ | |
| Movement fees (subject to change in line with Ports of Jersey pricing framework )
|
£34 | £35.70 | £35.70
Subject to change in line with Ports of Jersey pricing framework |
| Decarbonisation charge | £0 | £35.70 | £35.70
Subject to change in line with Ports of Jersey pricing framework |
| Total cost per movement | £34 | £71.40 | £71.40
Subject to change in line with Ports of Jersey pricing framework |
Administration logistics and monitoring process
The decarbonisation charge will be added automatically to every movement at a set rate from 1 May 2025.
In December 2025, those customers that have a Ports of Jersey account, for private and business aviation services, will be able to apply to provide supporting evidence of sustainable behaviours to keep the increase charge to 100%. Those who do not provide the required documentation will receive an increase in charges of 150% on their 2025 movement fees for 2026.
In the following years, account holders will be required to send in documentation on an annual basis, by the beginning of December retrospectively for the year, as supporting evidence of the sustainable behaviours, to receive the discount for the following year.
All submissions must be sent to sustainability@ports.je
Discounted charge criteria
To be eligible for a discounted decarbonisation charge, demonstration of at least two of the following sustainable behaviours will be required:
- Mass balancing total annual fuel consumption through the local ATF scheme with at least a 5% blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and/or providing evidence of Sustainable Aviation Fuel usage or mass balancing of total annual fuel consumption with at least a 5% blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel across other jurisdictions.
- Reducing empty journeys year on year by at least 20% (across all operational jurisdictions), to reach a total of zero empty leg journeys.
It is important to note that the discount criteria will be reviewed on an annual basis, and we will be reaching out for stakeholder feedback. Therefore, criteria may increase to include further measures, as future sustainable technology becomes available.
Allocation of funds raised through the decarbonisation charge
As a decarbonisation charge, all revenue raised through the charge will be strictly ring-fenced to solely support decarbonisation initiatives contained within Ports of Jersey’s published Decarbonisation Roadmap.
Ports of Jersey already has a specifically ring-fenced sustainability budget, and any funds raised from the decarbonisation charge will be additional to the current annual sustainability budget. Any funds raised by the charge will be spent within the year and publicly and transparently reported on annually as part of Ports of Jersey’s annual reporting process.
Initiatives will include, but not be limited to:
- Decarbonising the Ports of Jersey estate and meeting net-zero targets for example, switching heating to HVO, and then heat pumps and electric, and running diesel vehicles on HVO (HVO alone is projected to cost more than £250,000 per annum in comparison to the current fossil fuel cost and providing a material reduction in carbon emissions).
- Supporting the decarbonisation of ground equipment for example, electric pushback tugs
- Infrastructure for sustainable landside transport for passengers and employees for example, EV chargers, cycling facilities
- On-site renewable energy generation
- Research and development to enable the local provision of future Sustainable Aviation Fuels and technologies.
Feedback and questions
Please email sustainability@ports.je for any questions and feedback.