Emissions from European aviation have almost returned to 2019 levels, according to a new report from Transport & Environment (T&E), after dropping by a third during the COVID-19 pandemic. The environmental group has criticised European Union policies for “failing to address the true cost of those emissions” amid claims that airlines are defaulting on their climate commitments.
With overall flight numbers at 96% of pre-pandemic figures in 2024, the number of flights departing European airports in 2024 was 8.4 million, generating between them 187.6 Mt of CO2 , or 98% of the pre-Covid total. T&E’s analysis is that 70% of those CO2 emissions were “unpriced”.
The worst culprits for emissions were Ryanair and British Airways and just ten airlines were responsible for 40% of emissions, the group says. “Aviation emissions are spiraling out of control,” according to a statement by T&E’s aviation policy manager Krisztina Hencz, who noted: “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. If Europe continues down this path, ‘green’ aviation will remain a figment of people’s imaginations. Next year’s review of EU carbon markets is a chance to rectify a loophole in the current legislation and ensure airlines pay for the true cost of their pollution.”
A trend of low-cost carrier expansion in Europe continues, and is also being seen in the “extra-European market, which is usually dominated by flagship carriers like Lufthansa and Air France,” T&E highlights.
Intercontinental routes from Europe remain the highest-emitting, with London-New York topping the list. Currently, these emissions are “not priced under the EU, Swiss or UK carbon markets, which only apply to flights within Europe,” T&E points out. That means “no airline had to pay for their emissions on the most polluting routes.” The EU can address this when it reviews the rules in 2025, T&E says, but will have to resist pressure from airline CEOs to weaken carbon pricing regulations.
The Emissions Trading System or ETS, is a greenhouse gas monitoring and reduction programme that requires airlines to report emissions and give up carbon allowances. But many airlines are “diverting attention by promoting the cheaper global aviation offsetting scheme CORSIA, which charges up to 23 times less to pollute than an extension of the EU system” T&E says. Worse, the group claims, is the fact that CORSIA “will not help to raise revenues for green technologies like sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and electric and hydrogen aircraft.”
“Relying on CORSIA to cover international emissions from aviation is a false economy,” Krisztina Hencz added. “It is by far the worst option, both environmentally and financially. An extended EU ETS would deliver the greatest positive impact for European economies, alongside having the largest environmental benefits.”
