Emissions from flights in Europe last year soared to reach almost pre-COVID levels, according to a new study that calls for proper pricing of this pollution.
8.4 million flights departed from European airports in 2024, generating 187.6 million tonnes (Mt) of CO₂, campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E) calculates. That’s 96 per cent of 2019 flight numbers and 98 per cent of emissions.
But as aviation’s carbon market rules are “riddled with exemptions”, T&E claims that airlines were spared from paying for 70 per cent of the pollution they caused.
“Aviation emissions are spiralling 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,” says Krisztina Hencz, aviation policy manager at T&E.
“If Europe continues down this path, ‘green’ aviation will remain a figment of people’s imaginations.”
An upcoming review of EU carbon markets next year is a chance to correct a loophole in the current legislation, she adds, and ensure airlines fully account for their pollution.
What are the most polluting airlines in Europe?
Just ten airlines were responsible for 40 per cent of all European aviation emissions last year, with the top polluters being Ryanair (16.2 Mt CO2), Lufthansa (10 Mt CO2) and British Airways (8.9 Mt CO2).
These figures represent a 9 per cent, 6 per cent, and 3 per cent increase on 2023 emissions, respectively.
Next on the list is Air France, pumping out 8.2 Mt CO2 – though that’s actually a 1 per cent drop on the previous year.
The rest of the top 10 is rounded out by easyJet, Emirates, KLM, Wizz Air, Iberia – which had the highest year-on-year increase in emissions at 10 per cent – and United Airlines.
The study also charts the continuing trend of low-cost carrier expansion in the European aviation industry. This is even the case in the market outside of Europe, which is usually dominated by flagship carriers like Lufthansa and Air France.
The most polluting flight routes from Europe
Currently, airlines only have to pay for emissions for flights within the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK and Switzerland. But it is, of course, long-haul journeys that are the most polluting.
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 Emissions Trading System (ETS), Barcelona-London, was a lowly 135th on the ranking, producing 0.15Mt of CO₂.
ADVEReadNOWISEMENTThis means that no airline had to pay for emissions on the most polluting routes departing from Europe – which T&E believes is a “fundamental flaw” and a huge missed opportunity.
How could airlines be made to cover the true cost of pollution?
Extending the scope of Europe’s carbon markets to all departing flights would deliver significant climate benefits and generate revenues, according to the campaigners.
T&E estimates that an extension of the EU and UK ETS would have generated an additional €7.5 billion in 2024 if extra-European emissions were priced. This could have supported the development of green technologies like sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and electric and hydrogen aircraft.
The EU will review its ETS next year, presenting the opportunity to address this omission by extending its scope to all departing flights.
ADVEReadNOWISEMENTBut the review will come amid signs of climate backtracking from the aviation industry, T&E warns, with the CEOs of prominent airlines – including Ryanair and Air France – calling on the EU to weaken its carbon pricing rules.