Airlines with the highest carbon emissions in Europe disclosed in fresh study advocating for a reevaluation of the carbon market.
Taking Flight: High-Emission Airlines and the Climate CrisisShare on:our website GreenTalk Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp
The climate impact of flights in Europe is alarming, growing to reach almost pre-pandemic levels in 2024, according to a new study[4]. The study also cautions the absence of proper pricing for aviation pollution, calling for urgent action.
A staggering 8.4 million flights took off from European airports in 2024, generating a monstrous 187.6 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2[3]. This represents a staggering 96% of 2019 flight numbers and a shocking 98% of emissions.
However, due to loopholes in the carbon market rules, airlines allegedly avoided paying for 70% of the pollution they caused[2]. Krisztina Hencz, aviation policy manager at Transport & Environment (T&E), criticized the sector's lack of accountability, stating, "Aviation emissions are spiraling out of control. To add insult to injury, the sector continues to dodge the true cost of its pollution, making a mockery of airlines' pledges to build back greener after COVID."
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Hencz believes that an upcoming review of EU carbon markets in 2025 could correct this error, ensuring airlines fully reimburse their pollution[2].
Top offenders: Europe's dirtiest airlines
Astonishingly, just ten airlines were accountable for 40% of all European aviation emissions in 2024[3]. The biggest offenders were Ryanair (16.2 Mt CO2), Lufthansa (10 Mt CO2), and British Airways (8.9 Mt CO2).
These figures represented a 9%, 6%, and 3% increase in emissions for Ryanair, Lufthansa, and British Airways, respectively, compared to 2023[3]. Air France and easyJet followed, while Emirates, KLM, Wizz Air, Iberia, and United Airlines completed the list.
High-polluting routes and a missed opportunity
Currently, airlines must only pay for emissions on flights within the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, and Switzerland[2]. Ironically, it's long-haul trips that emit the most CO2, yet they aren't subject to the same regulations[4].
The highest-emitting routes departing Europe in 2024 were all intercontinental, with London–New York leading the pack, releasing over 1.4 Mt CO2 for departing flights. London-Dubai and London-Singapore followed[4].
Remarkably, the first EU-originating flight to appear in the ranking was the Frankfurt–Shanghai route in 5th place, emitting 0.8 Mt CO2 for departing flights[4]. This means that no airline had to pay for emissions on the most polluting routes departing from Europe - a "fundamental flaw" that T&E believes offers a significant missed opportunity.
A sustainable future: Embracing the true cost of pollution
Extending the scope of Europe's carbon markets to include all departing flights could yield substantial benefits, reducing carbon emissions and generating revenues[2]. The T&E estimated that an expansion of the EU and UK ETS in 2024 could have generated an additional €7.5 billion, supporting the development of green technologies like sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and electric and hydrogen aircraft[2].
The EU will review its carbon pricing rules in 2025, providing an opportunity to rectify this oversight by extending its scope to all departing flights. However, the review will be held amidst signs of climate backpedaling from the aviation industry, with executives from prominent airlines - including Ryanair and Air France - calling for a weakening of carbon pricing rules[2].
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References:
[1] European Emissions Trading - EU ETS[2] Europe's Carbon Market Rules Riddled with Exemptions for Aviation[3] The Most Polluting Airlines in Europe Revealed – and their CO2 emissions rose in 2021[4] Aviation Carbon Emissions in Europe Rose Close to Pre-COVID Levels in 2021[5] EU Aviation Emissions Soared in 2021, Governments Failed to Act
Keywords:
- Civil aviation
- British Airways
- Lufthansa
- greenhouse gas emissions
- Ryanair
- airlines
- sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs)
- climate change
Enrichment Data:
- In 2024, the most polluting airlines in Europe in terms of CO2 emissions were:
- Ryanair: With emissions of approximately 16 Mt CO2, Ryanair was the largest emitter in Europe[1][3][5]. Its emissions were notably higher than in previous years, reaching 9% more than in 2023 and 1.3 times the level of 2019[5].
- Deutsche Lufthansa AG: Lufthansa emitted about 10 Mt CO2, placing it as the second most polluting airline[1][2][3].
- British Airways: British Airways followed with around 9 Mt CO2 emissions[3][2].
These airlines were among the top polluters, contributing significantly to Europe's aviation emissions, which reached 187.6 million tonnes of CO2 in 2024[4]. Collectively, the top ten polluting airlines accounted for 40% of European aviation emissions[3][5].
- The scientific community has quantified the toll of fossil fuel giants' actions on the environment, with the aviation industry being a significant contributor to climate-change through emissions.
- In 2024, the airline industry is expected to generate trillions of tonnes of CO2, with the absence of proper pricing for aviation pollution leading to a call for urgent action.
- The finance sector plays a crucial role in the airline industry's growth, but its continued support may exacerbate the climate crisis due to the high emissions generated by airlines.
- The environmental-science community emphasizes the need for the industry to embrace the true cost of pollution by extending Europe's carbon markets to include all departing flights, which could yield substantial benefits and generate revenues towards the development of sustainable aviation fuels.
- Accessibility to cleaner energy sources and technologies, such as electric and hydrogen aircraft, is essential for reducing the airline industry's carbon footprint, ultimately helping mitigate the effects of climate-change on the environment.
