Airline Industry: The Worst Polluters?

Aviation emissions have soared to pre-COVID levels, with the European aviation sector reaching 98% of 2019 emissions. A recent study by Transport & Environment (T&E) found that 10 airlines were responsible for 40% of all European aviation emissions, with Ryanair, Lufthansa, and British Airways being the top polluters. As intercontinental European aviation emissions are not priced under the EU, Swiss, or UK carbon markets, no airline has to pay for their emissions on the most polluting routes departing from Europe. This has resulted in a mockery of airlines' pledges to build back greener, with green aviation remaining a distant dream.

Ryanair, Lufthansa and British Airways are top polluters

Ryanair, Lufthansa, and British Airways are among the top polluters in the airline industry, according to recent reports. In 2025, these airlines were listed as the top three contributors to European aviation emissions, with Ryanair emitting 16.2 Mt of CO2, Lufthansa emitting 10 Mt, and British Airways emitting 8.9 Mt. These emissions represent an increase in pollution compared to the previous year for all three airlines.

Ryanair, a low-cost airline, has been criticized for its environmental impact, with its CEO even calling on the EU to weaken carbon pricing. Legacy carriers, such as Lufthansa and British Airways, have lost market share to budget airlines like Ryanair, contributing to the rise in pollution. Additionally, the limited scope of carbon markets and free allowances given to airlines allow them to avoid paying the full cost of their emissions. For example, Lufthansa only paid for 16% of its emissions, amounting to just €130 million instead of over €800 million.

The aviation industry's resistance to carbon pricing and the lack of effective carbon pricing mechanisms for extra-European flights have hindered efforts to curb emissions. Expanding the scope of legislation and carbon markets could generate significant revenue for the development of sustainable aviation fuels and electric aircraft. However, there are signs of climate backtracking, with Ryanair and other airlines lobbying against carbon pricing.

While Ryanair, Lufthansa, and British Airways are major polluters, it is important to note that the airline industry as a whole has come under scrutiny for its environmental impact. The top 20 airlines, including legacy carriers and third-country carriers, are responsible for a larger share of emissions than over 400 airlines flying from Europe combined. The growth of low-cost airlines and the increase in pollution they bring have made the prospect of "green" aviation more distant.

To address these issues, organizations like T&E have advocated for extending carbon markets to all departing flights from Europe to ensure airlines pay for their emissions and incentivize the development of cleaner technologies.

Extra-European flights surpass pre-COVID emissions

The COVID-19 pandemic saw emissions in the EU drop sharply as lockdowns brought industries to a halt and people worked from home. However, a new study by the clean energy lobby group Transport & Environment (T&E) predicts that carbon emissions from the European aviation industry will surpass 2019 levels in 2025. This trend is not limited to the aviation industry, as the EU's statistics office, Eurostat, reported that greenhouse gas emissions from economic activities in the European Union exceeded pre-pandemic levels in the last quarter of 2021. All 27 member states experienced a year-on-year increase, with Estonia, Bulgaria, and Malta seeing the biggest rises.

The EU has set ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aiming for a 55% reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Scientists from the International Panel on Climate Change have emphasized the urgency of the situation, warning that emissions must be drastically reduced by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This benchmark is critical to avoiding the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.

Despite the EU's commitments and targets, the recent increase in emissions underscores the challenges faced in balancing environmental goals with economic realities, particularly in light of the bloc's efforts to reduce dependency on Russian fossil fuels in the context of the Ukraine invasion. The rebound in emissions highlights the fragility of the environmental gains achieved during the pandemic and serves as a reminder that sustained efforts and transformative changes are necessary to combat climate change effectively.

The aviation industry's contribution to rising emissions underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to emissions reduction. While the industry has made strides in fuel efficiency and technology, the surge in extra-European flights returning to pre-COVID levels underscores the urgency of addressing aviation emissions. As the world navigates the complexities of economic recovery and energy security, finding a balance between these concerns and the imperative to curb emissions remains a pressing challenge.

EU carbon markets don't price intercontinental flights

Aviation was brought into the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) in 2012. Initially, the legislation was designed to include all flights departing from or arriving at an airport in the European Economic Area (EEA). However, following pressure from the international community and the aviation industry, the EU decided to temporarily reduce the scope to cover only intra-EEA flights, in what is referred to as a "stop the clock" measure. This was meant to give the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) time to reach an effective worldwide agreement.

The "stop the clock" measure will be maintained and extended until 2027. In 2026, the European Commission will evaluate the effectiveness of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) established by ICAO. If the assessment finds that not enough progress has been made internationally, the Commission will formulate a legislative proposal that may involve the expansion of the scope.

The highest-emitting routes departing Europe in 2024 were all intercontinental, with London-New York topping the list, releasing over 1.4 Mt of CO₂ for departing flights. London to Dubai (1.2Mt) and London to Singapore (1.1Mt) followed. The first EU-originating flight to appear in the ranking was the Frankfurt-Shanghai route in 5th place, emitting 0.8 Mt of CO₂ for departing flights. The first route that is included in the current scope of the EU ETS, Barcelona-London, was a lowly 135th on the ranking, producing 0.15Mt of CO₂.

This means that no airline had to pay for emissions on the most polluting routes departing from Europe. Extending the scope of Europe’s carbon markets to all departing flights would deliver significant climate benefits and generate revenues, according to campaigners.

A review of EU carbon markets is expected to take place in 2023, presenting the opportunity to address this omission by extending its scope to all departing flights. However, there are signs of climate backtracking from the aviation industry, with the CEOs of prominent airlines, including Ryanair and Air France, calling on the EU to weaken its carbon pricing rules.

Aviation emissions spiral out of control

Aviation emissions are spiralling out of control, with the sector dodging the true cost of its pollution. In 2024, the European aviation sector almost fully recovered to pre-COVID levels, reaching 96% of 2019 flight numbers and 98% of emissions. Over 8.4 million flights departed from European airports, generating 187.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (Mt CO₂).

The top polluters were Ryanair (16 Mt CO₂), Lufthansa (10 Mt CO₂), and British Airways (9 Mt CO₂). These 3 airlines, along with 7 others, were responsible for 40% of all European aviation emissions. Intercontinental flights departing from Europe are not priced under the EU, Swiss, or UK carbon markets, so no airline has to pay for their emissions on these routes. As a result, 70% of CO₂ emissions from aviation remained unpriced in 2024.

The EU will review its Emissions Trading System (ETS) in 2026, which is a market-based mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The aim is to encourage industries, such as aviation, to reduce emissions efficiently by setting a cap on the total amount of greenhouse gases they can emit. The review presents an opportunity to address the issue of who pays for the most polluting routes.

Instead of addressing this issue, many airline CEOs are promoting the global aviation offsetting scheme CORSIA, which charges significantly less to pollute than an extension of the EU system. However, this scheme will not help raise revenues for green technologies like sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and electric and hydrogen aircraft.

Long-haul airlines BA and Air Canada score low

Aviation is considered one of the least sustainable activities, contributing to around 4% of global warming to date. However, some airlines are taking steps to improve their sustainability and reduce their environmental impact.

Unfortunately, two long-haul airlines, British Airways (BA) and Air Canada, have scored poorly in recent customer satisfaction surveys. In the Which? long-haul flights survey, both BA and Air Canada finished joint-bottom out of 19 airlines, with a low score of 62%. They received two stars out of five across several categories, including value for money, seat comfort, and cabin environment.

BA has faced criticism from customers regarding its refund policies and customer service. Despite investing in newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft and initiatives like BA Better World, which aims for net-zero emissions by 2050, BA has a long way to go to improve its sustainability and customer satisfaction.

Air Canada, the largest airline in Canada, has also shown a commitment to sustainability by investing in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and setting ambitious climate action goals. However, their fleet is ageing, and they may struggle to boast of their fuel efficiency compared to other airlines.

While both BA and Air Canada have demonstrated efforts towards sustainability, their low scores in customer satisfaction surveys indicate room for improvement in delivering a positive and environmentally conscious travel experience.

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