European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen utilised private jets for 16 official trips during 2024, according to travel data disclosed in response to a parliamentary inquiry, according to Euractiv.
The flights, funded by the Commission, were revealed in a written reply to German MEP Martin Schirdewan, co-chair of The Left group, who has consistently challenged von der Leyen’s travel practices given her prominent advocacy of the EU’s Green Deal.
However, a Commission spokesperson defended the chartered flights, stating they were deployed “only” under logistical constraints, time pressures, or for security imperatives.
It is good to remember that she [von der Leyen] is a full member of the European Council, of the G7, the G20, and is invited to major global events such as the UN General Assembly – at the level of a head of state or government and with an equivalent schedule and work burden. The president travels as much as possible using commercial airlines and public transport.
The disclosed records indicate von der Leyen was typically accompanied by entourages ranging from 3 to 39 staff members. Notable trips included: a September mission to flood-affected Wrocław involving 40 personnel at €2,981.25 per person and a June itinerary spanning Paris, Italy’s G7 Summit, and Switzerland’s Ukraine Peace Conference costing €14,110 per person
Five of the 16 recorded flights serviced the Brussels-Strasbourg route, a journey taking 1-1.25 hours by air versus under five hours via high-speed rail. Schirdewan had previously criticised similar Strasbourg flights in 2023, labelling them environmentally irresponsible given available rail alternatives.
Scrutiny intensified in May 2024 when von der Leyen flew with European Council President António Costa and Parliament President Roberta Metsola from Strasbourg to Luxembourg.
The Commission declined to provide cumulative costs, directing attention to von der Leyen’s transparency disclosures. This follows 2023 reports by Bild and Der Spiegel revealing 57 private flights over two years, which sparked backlash over the carbon footprint of her travel amid flagship climate initiatives.
