Aviation emissions set for record highs?

BTN News
Tuesday, 23 April 2024

Newer planes with lower fuel consumption mean lower emissions per passenger, but those gains are being absorbed by increases in the number of flights and overall, aviation pollution figures are growing, European campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E) says.


For example, emissions from UK flights are on track for record highs this year and the sector could breach the government pledge to not exceed 2019 figures on the way to net zero emissions from aviation by 2050.

T&E says - based on UK and EU carbon reporting and other flight data - that several airlines already emit more than ever before.

It estimates Ireland's Ryanair emitted 13.5 per cent more CO2 in 2023 than it did in 2019, with Britain's easyJet up by 4.8 per cent and Jet2.com up by 26.3 per cent. British Airways led the field.

Last year, about 940,000 flights departed from UK airports, emitting a total of 32 million tonnes of CO2, 89 per cent of 2019 levels, according to T&E. 

It said there had been remarkable levels of growth in comparison to 2022 alone, with long-haul flight emissions 28 per cent higher and that data suggests UK and other countries' aviation emissions could hit record highs in 2024.

Aviation emissions set for record highs?

BTN News
Tuesday, 23 April 2024

Newer planes with lower fuel consumption mean lower emissions per passenger, but those gains are being absorbed by increases in the number of flights and overall, aviation pollution figures are growing, European campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E) says.


For example, emissions from UK flights are on track for record highs this year and the sector could breach the government pledge to not exceed 2019 figures on the way to net zero emissions from aviation by 2050.

T&E says - based on UK and EU carbon reporting and other flight data - that several airlines already emit more than ever before.

It estimates Ireland's Ryanair emitted 13.5 per cent more CO2 in 2023 than it did in 2019, with Britain's easyJet up by 4.8 per cent and Jet2.com up by 26.3 per cent. British Airways led the field.

Last year, about 940,000 flights departed from UK airports, emitting a total of 32 million tonnes of CO2, 89 per cent of 2019 levels, according to T&E. 

It said there had been remarkable levels of growth in comparison to 2022 alone, with long-haul flight emissions 28 per cent higher and that data suggests UK and other countries' aviation emissions could hit record highs in 2024.