Kentucky Derby 2026 — Private Jet Emissions Tracker
152nd Running · Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
Total CO₂
610 t
metric tonnes
Flights Tracked
222
private jet movements
Distinct Aircraft
182
unique tail numbers
Last updated May 2nd 2026
Carbon Sky Index tracked 222 private jet movements across Louisville and Cincinnati during Kentucky Derby 2026 2026. A total of 222 private jet movements were recorded, emitting an estimated 610.5 metric tonnes of CO₂. Emissions estimates are calculated using the EUROCONTROL EMEP/EEA Guidebook 2023 LTO and cruise phase methodology.
Private jet activity at Louisville and Cincinnati averaged 59.6 t CO₂ per day in the 30 days before the event. During the Kentucky Derby 2026 window, daily emissions peaked at 1,065.2 t CO₂ on May 3 — 1687% above baseline.
Daily Flight Activity
vs. 30-day rolling baseline
Peak above 30-day baseline
+1687%
Excess emissions on peak day
1,006 t
Peak inbound date · 158 total
May 3
Of the 223 total movements recorded, 158 were inbound arrivals and 65 were outbound departures. Inbound flights generated 457.3 t CO₂ and outbound flights generated 154 t CO₂.
Inbound / Outbound Split
Inbound arrivals
158
flights
457 t CO₂
Outbound departures
65
flights
154 t CO₂
First & Last
First arrival
Danbury (KDXR)
Fri, May 1, 2026
Last departure
Cincinnati (KLUK)
Sat, May 2, 2026
The table below lists all 222 private jet movements tracked at Louisville and Cincinnati during Kentucky Derby 2026 2026. 170 aircraft were making their first recorded visit to the event airports in the prior four months.
All Flights
222 totalBattle Creek→Louisville
1.0 t CO₂
Tulsa→Louisville
2.9 t CO₂
Myrtle Beach→Louisville
4.3 t CO₂
Cincinnati→Cincinnati
0.6 t CO₂
Marco Island→Cincinnati
7.5 t CO₂
Teterboro→Louisville
3.7 t CO₂
Charlottesville→Louisville
2.4 t CO₂
Milwaukee→Louisville
0.6 t CO₂
Orlando→Louisville
2.7 t CO₂
Auburn→Cincinnati
1.4 t CO₂
Aircraft arrived from 10 distinct origin airports during the event window. The highest-volume origin was Teterboro (KTEB), which accounted for 8 arrivals and approximately 30.8 metric tonnes of CO₂.
Top Origin Cities
| Rank | Origin city | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TeterboroKTEB | 8 | 31 t | 3.8 t |
| 2 | West Palm BeachKPBI | 5 | 24 t | 4.9 t |
| 3 | Chicago/Prospect Heights/WheelingKPWK | 4 | 6 t | 1.5 t |
| 4 | DallasKDAL | 4 | 14 t | 3.5 t |
| 5 | AtlantaKPDK | 3 | 4 t | 1.3 t |
| 6 | White PlainsKHPN | 3 | 14 t | 4.7 t |
| 7 | ChicagoKMDW | 3 | 5 t | 1.6 t |
| 8 | TorontoCYYZ | 3 | 8 t | 2.7 t |
| 9 | MilwaukeeKMKE | 2 | 2 t | 1.2 t |
| 10 | OrlandoKORL | 2 | 4 t | 2.1 t |
1 arrival (4.5 t CO₂) with no recorded origin and 1 local movement (0.9 t CO₂) within the event airport cluster are excluded from this ranking.
Fleet Breakdown
Frequently Asked Questions
How many private jets flew to Kentucky Derby 2026 2026?
Carbon Sky Index tracked 222 private jet movements across Louisville and Cincinnati during the Kentucky Derby 2026 2026 window (April 30, 2026 to May 3, 2026). These 182 distinct aircraft emitted an estimated 610 metric tonnes of CO₂.
How much CO₂ did private jets emit at Kentucky Derby 2026 2026?
Private jets flying to and from Kentucky Derby 2026 2026 emitted an estimated 610 metric tonnes of CO₂ in total. Carbon Sky Index calculates emissions using the EUROCONTROL EMEP/EEA Guidebook 2023 methodology, covering both LTO (landing and takeoff) and cruise phase emissions.
Which airport had the most private jet traffic during Kentucky Derby 2026 2026?
Carbon Sky Index monitored traffic across Louisville and Cincinnati. The highest volume of arriving aircraft came from Teterboro, with 8 inbound flights recorded.
How does Carbon Sky Index track private jet emissions?
Carbon Sky Index uses ADS-B transponder data to identify private jet movements at monitored airports. CO₂ estimates are calculated per flight using the EUROCONTROL EMEP/EEA Guidebook 2023 methodology, which accounts for aircraft type, route distance, and both LTO and cruise phase fuel burn. Data is updated daily.
Flight data is sourced from ADS-B transponder signals aggregated from a global receiver network and updated daily. CO₂ estimates are calculated using aircraft-type hourly burn rates from the Carbon Sky Index emissions model. Read methodology →