As environmental awareness grows and the demand for sustainable aviation intensifies, how can travelers more accurately assess the carbon impact of their flight choices? A new collaboration between the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the oneworld Alliance aims to address this challenge, marking a significant advancement in aviation's sustainability efforts.
Data-Driven Carbon Calculation
The partnership centers on oneworld and its 13 member airlines—including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas—committing to share operational data with IATA's CO2 Connect emissions calculator. This will substantially improve the tool's accuracy by increasing the proportion of airline-specific fuel consumption data used in calculations.
"Travelers want to make informed choices based on understanding their carbon footprint," said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Chief Economist. "We're delighted oneworld has become the first airline alliance to join this initiative with all 13 member carriers as data contributors."
Industry-Wide Commitment
Grace Cheung, Chair of oneworld's Environment & Sustainability Committee, emphasized the alliance's commitment: "Our collaboration with IATA on CO2 Connect will help key industry stakeholders—from airlines to travel management companies—enable better choices for travelers and strengthen ESG reporting."
How CO2 Connect Works
Launched in June 2022, IATA CO2 Connect calculates per-passenger emissions for individual flights using:
- Fuel consumption data from member airlines
- Cargo load factors
- Passenger occupancy rates
The system currently covers 74 aircraft types (98% of global passenger fleet) and incorporates traffic data from 881 operators (93% of global air travel). Results are available via API or flat files to industry partners and through airline distribution channels.
Passenger Expectations
Recent surveys reveal a significant gap between passenger intentions and actions:
- 90% believe they should know their flight's carbon impact
- Only 40% actually check emissions data
- 90% expect airlines or travel agencies to provide this information
Future Developments
IATA plans several CO2 Connect enhancements:
- Corporate reporting solution (already launched)
- Carbon offset functionality (2024)
- Freight calculator (2024)
Methodological Rigor
The calculator employs IATA's Passenger CO2 Calculation Methodology (RP 1726), developed with input from 20 airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and international standards bodies. Key methodological elements include:
- CORSIA-aligned fuel measurement
- Weight-based allocation between passengers and cargo
- Cabin class multipliers
- Guidance on carbon offsets and sustainable aviation fuel
A New Benchmark for Sustainability
This collaboration establishes a new standard for transparency in aviation emissions. By providing more accurate carbon data, the initiative empowers both travelers and industry players to make more sustainable choices while driving innovation in emissions reduction.