Low-Cost Airlines Lead in Emission Reduction as Air Travel Recovers

Despite their contribution to CO2 growth, budget carriers' strategies may hold the key to the industry's carbon neutrality goal.

Global air travel is almost completely recovered from the pandemic, and cutting emissions is now the industry’s main challenge.
The low-cost, low-luxury business model of airlines, which includes measures like installing paper-thin seats and ditching heavy extras, is emerging as a template for reducing pollution.
The five airlines that emit the fewest pollutants per passenger are all low-cost carriers, with Wizz Air Holdings leading the pack.
Data suggests that to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, airlines need to pack more passengers onto their aircraft, give them less space, and cut back on food and drink.
Low-cost carriers were responsible for almost 90% of growth in fuel use and CO2 emissions from U.S. airlines between 2005 and 2019, indicating that fuel-efficiency improvements couldn't keep pace with passenger growth.