Europe’s top 10 most polluting airlines revealed in new report calling for carbon market review

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🗞️ Driving the news: A new report by Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that Europe’s top 10 airlines, led by Ryanair, Lufthansa, and British Airways, were responsible for 40% of all aviation emissions in 2024
• Despite a near return to pre-COVID flight activity, airlines paid for only 30% of their pollution due to widespread exemptions in the EU’s carbon market
• T&E is urging a reform of the carbon pricing system to cover all departing flights and curb unchecked aviation emissions

🔭 The context: Under current EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) rules, airlines are only charged for emissions from flights within the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, and Switzerland, leaving long-haul flights largely unaccounted for
• The aviation sector’s emissions in 2024 reached 98% of 2019 levels, signaling a full rebound without corresponding climate measures
• Meanwhile, low-cost carriers continue expanding, even dominating intercontinental emissions-heavy routes

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Aviation emissions are among the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gases, and loopholes in current regulations undermine global decarbonization efforts
• Properly pricing emissions could drive investment into sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and low-emission technologies
• Without stricter measures, the industry's green pledges risk becoming symbolic rather than transformational

⏭️ What's next: The EU is scheduled to review its ETS rules in 2026, offering a critical opportunity to extend carbon pricing to all departing flights
• However, industry pressure to relax regulations is intensifying, with major airlines lobbying against stricter rules
• The outcome of this review will shape Europe’s aviation decarbonization pathway and determine the availability of new funding streams for green aviation initiatives 

💬 One quote: “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,” — Krisztina Hencz, aviation policy manager at T&E

📈 One stat: Extending carbon pricing to all departing flights could have generated an additional €7.5 billion in 2024 — funds that could accelerate the development of sustainable aviation technologies

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of Ryanair, Lufthansa, and British Airways, and their peers easyJet and Air France

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