Overview
- The analysis models 27.5 million flights from 2023 across 26,156 city pairs using data from ICAO, IATA and airlines.
- Replacing current fleets with the most efficient models would cut emissions by about 25–28%, while all‑economy seating could remove roughly 25–50%.
- Raising average passenger load factors to about 95% yields around 16% savings, and using the most efficient configurations on competing routes delivers 10.7% immediately.
- Efficiency varies widely by geography and airport size, with stronger performance on high‑demand routes and poorer results at small or remote airports, including notably weak outcomes in Africa, Australia and Norway.
- Researchers and commentators propose policy levers such as differentiated landing fees, shrinking premium cabins and removing subsidies, while noting SAF mandates exist but volumes remain limited.