Airlines may have to disclose carbon impact of individuals’ flights under new UK policy

23 July 2024 , 17:17

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Airlines may have to disclose carbon impact of individuals’ flights under new UK policy

Civil Aviation Authority proposes measure to help consumers make ‘more informed travel choices’

Airlines may have to tell passengers the environmental impact of the flights they book under new proposals from the UK regulator.

The Civil Aviation Authority said consumers should be able to make more informed travel choices when booking flights and package holidays. 

Passengers would need “accurate, understandable, and accessible” measures, and would probably be told the carbon impact of their individual flights in terms of the CO2 emitted, the CAA said, launching a consultation on the plans at the Farnborough airshow.

The CAA director of policy, Tim Johnson, said: “Providing consumers with accessible, transparent and accurate environmental information is essential to making more informed travel choices.

“Our new proposals aim to standardise this information across all platforms, enabling passengers to more easily compare the environmental impact of their flights. This initiative is a significant step towards greater transparency and improved sustainability in the aviation industry.”

The policy could come into effect from early 2025.

Some airlines, including Ryanair and Wizz, publish a monthly report of their average CO2 emissions per passenger journey, which is generally lowest on the newest, fuel-efficient planes that fly with the fullest occupancy.

Future carbon calculations could also include the amount of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) used. Airlines are expected to be required to incorporate at least 10% SAF in their fuel mix by 2030.

Although SAF still emits CO2 in flight, its proponents argue that its “lifecycle emissions” – through using feedstocks such as waste and recycled cooking oil to produce the fuel – are up to 70% lower than from conventional jet fuel.

Airlines are banking on SAF, which is much more expensive to produce than kerosene at the moment. However, the UK is targeting at least five commercial SAF plants in construction by the end of 2025, and the government has announced legislation for a revenue certainty mechanism to boost investment in the new field.

Sophia Martinez