By Michael Schneider, IATA Assistant Director Sustainability Programs
Increasingly, passengers are demanding transparent emissions data to help them make informed decisions about their travel. IATA research conducted in April 2026 revealed that 48% of travelers—particularly business travelers—regularly check their flight-related carbon emissions when booking a flight.
The airline industry firmly supports this demand for transparency. We agree that passengers must have access to the information they need to make informed decisions when managing the environmental impact of their travel.
Trusted and Accurate
However, for this information to be meaningful and reliable, the underlying data used in these calculations must be accurate and globally standardized. For us, that means getting it from airlines (who have the clearest view of how much fuel was used for any particular flight) and calculating the CO2 impact by using a global methodology. Along with building confidence in emissions reporting, this approach also provides the most efficient means to comply with regulatory requirements. There is no need for every regulator to invent their own version of the truth for calculating emissions.
Unfortunately, Europe is moving in a direction that creates fragmentation, unnecessary administrative burden, and additional costs for airlines.
The EU, Switzerland, and the UK have taken steps to ensure that passengers have access to information about how much carbon dioxide their air travel is generating. Although well-intended, this lacks a unified approach to CO2 calculations. Conversely, this presents an opportunity for authorities to work together with the aviation sector to agree on a standardized mechanism. Such collaboration could pave the way for a standardized approach by regulators globally.
CO2 Connect
In fact, that was the vision when IATA launched CO2 Connect in 2022. Since then, it has proven to be the most accurate emissions calculation available. Why? Because it is based on operational data from 110 airlines, which monitor and record every drop of fuel used by their aircraft.
This real-world data-driven approach sets CO2 Connect apart from alternatives that rely on theoretical models. Real data means that we can accurately account for the specificities such as aircraft type, fuel burn, load factors, and cabin configuration, not to mention being able to calculate the emission reductions of sustainable aviation fuel when it is used.
Providing Data to Passengers
Airlines are already using CO2 Connect to provide their customers with this important information. Gulf Air are using CO2 Connect data—provided through software company Chooose—to offer passengers emissions information. They join early adopters such as Spain’s Plus Ultra, which displays emissions data from CO2 Connect at the point of booking on its website.
Governments and passengers both want accurate information about the CO2 impact of travel. No matter who asks the question or for what purpose, the answer should be consistent. And that’s why we are making every effort for any stakeholder—government or industry—to have access to IATA’s CO2 Connect. It’s an important part of our commitment to providing emissions transparency.
