Global Airlines Fall Short of Climate Goals as CO2 Efficiency Stagnates

A new report reveals that the aviation industry is failing to meet international climate targets, with German airlines lagging behind in sustainability rankings.

• The Atmosfair Airline Index shows global airlines improved CO2 efficiency by only 1.4% annually since 2019, far below the 4% needed to meet Paris Agreement goals.
• German carriers Lufthansa, Condor, and TUIfly dropped significantly in the sustainability rankings, with aging fleets and slow modernization efforts cited as key factors.
• Supply chain issues at Boeing and Airbus have delayed the delivery of fuel-efficient aircraft, hindering airlines' ability to reduce emissions.
• Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) remains underutilized, with less than 1% of global airline fuel needs met by SAF in 2023 despite increasing production capacity.
• The aviation sector's CO2 emissions in 2023 were still 10% lower than pre-pandemic levels, but passenger numbers have nearly returned to 2019 figures.

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