Drake’s 14-minute flight from Toronto to Hamilton gets noticed, criticized online
Posted July 25, 2022 6:48 pm.
Last Updated July 25, 2022 9:43 pm.
By now, most motorists in the GTA familiar with Hamilton are aware that it takes about an hour to drive to Toronto, depending on traffic.
Drake figured he’d skip the drive and fly in his private jet instead.
The increasingly popular “CelebJets” — a Twitter account dedicated to tracking the private jets of many celebrities — recently shared one of Drake’s flights from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to Hamilton International Airport (YHM).
According to CelebJets, that flight on July 18 was approximately 14 minutes, cost roughly $2,729 worth of fuel and emitted around four tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air.
Drake took his plane from Hamilton to Toronto on an 18-minute flight on July 12.
Naturally, it didn’t take very long for people to notice, criticizing the Canadian rapper for the “ridiculous” move.
“If you are interested in offsetting your emissions, then I know some real estate upgrades that would be up your alley,” one Twitter user said. “Secure investments. Negative carbon impact. It is a chance to make a difference to a community of entrepreneurs.”
“Why are you flying for 14 minutes… just take one of your sports cars,” another person replied.
RELATED: Toronto Pearson ranked world’s worst airport for current flight delays
The transportation sector generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation mainly come from burning fossil fuels for our cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes.
Last summer, Drake announced a collaboration with climate group Aspiration to “offset his touring carbon footprint.”
“Following an audit of the artist’s schedule, events, and travel, Aspiration will calculate [Drake’s] carbon footprint and use its reforestation program to offset the estimated climate impact,” a spokesperson said at the time of the announcement.
Joe Sanberg, co-founder and Aspiration board member, said of Drake that he “isn’t just ahead of the curve — he defines the curve,” and mentioned that the Canadian pop star “will be leading by example as he shows his fans how spending and saving with Aspiration can easily eliminate their carbon footprint.”
Short flights are nothing new for some celebs
Drake isn’t the only one getting recent attention and criticism for short private jet flights.
Kylie Jenner, the 24-year-old businesswoman, has faced online backlash after she posted an Instagram picture of herself and her partner, rapper Travis Scott, on the runway of an airport between two private jets.
According to CelebJets, Jenner’s flight on July 12 lasted just 17 minutes, taking her from Van Nuys in Los Angeles to Camarillo.
Jenner’s sister, Kim Kardashian, is also no stranger to quick flights. According to CelebJets, the fashion icon recently travelled from Camarillo to Van Nuys in Los Angeles on a 10-minute flight.
Kenny Chesney, the country music singer, was in the air for just 20 minutes between Akron, Ohio and Pittsburgh.
Actor Mark Wahlberg took an 11-minute flight from Des Moines, Iowa, to Newton, Iowa — a drive that takes around 35 minutes.
