PEX Network’s key takeaways:
- Operational efficiency could halve CO2 emissions in aviation, according to a new study.
- Study identified three practical levers to reduce average aviation emissions per passenger.
- Efficiency gains can be encouraged through a combination of policy instruments and market-based measures.
Aviation could halve CO₂ emissions by accelerating operational efficiency measures rather than relying on costly sustainable fuels or carbon offsets. That’s according to a new study co-led by the University of Oxford.
Researchers analyzed more than 27 million commercial flights in 2023, covering 26,000 city pairs and nearly 3.5 billion passengers. This revealed enormous variability in emissions efficiency, with some routes producing nearly 900 grams of CO₂ per kilometer for each paying passenger – almost 30-times higher than the most efficient, at around 30 grams of CO₂ per kilometer.
Aviation’s climate impact continues to grow, with little progress toward emission reductions aligned with global targets, the authors wrote. While technological advances attract attention, operational efficiency across aircraft, airlines, airports, city pairs, and regions remains underexplored.
Sustainability is critically important for modern organizations as environmental concerns and regulatory pressures continue to rise. Companies must prioritize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) to align with global sustainability goals and remain competitive.
A recent survey by global consultancy Kearney found that 69 percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) predict higher returns on sustainability initiatives compared to traditional investments. What’s more, 93 percent recognize the business case for sustainability investments and 92 percent expect their organizations to significantly increase net spend on sustainability.
Operational efficiency could halve CO2 emissions
Aviation emissions are poised to surge as annual passenger traffic could more than double by 2050, according to the International Air Transport Association. The US is responsible for 25 percent of global emissions, while the second largest emitting country is China.
The study identified three practical levers to reduce average aviation emissions per passenger: operating only the most fuel-efficient aircraft, removing premium-class seating to carry more passengers, and raising passenger loads to 95 percent.
Aircraft model alone was found to have a significant impact, with per-passenger emissions ranging from 60 grams to 360 grams of CO₂ per kilometer. The analysis indicated that replacing existing fleets with the most efficient aircraft – namely the Boeing 787-9 for long-haul routes and the Airbus A321neo for short- and medium-haul operations – could achieve fuel savings of up to 28 percent.
Seating configurations also make a notable difference, since business and first-class seats are up to five-times more CO₂-intense than economy class seats, the study found. The researchers noted that increasing passenger numbers to the maximum seating configuration for the most efficient aircraft would further reduce emissions by 22 percent to 57 percent.
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How to enhance operational efficiency in aviation
“While economically and practically unfeasible to replace all older aircraft short term, this analysis shows the potential more efficient aircraft have in comparison to other efficiency gains,” commented Dr Milan Klöwer, co-author, department of physics at the University of Oxford. “Realistically, this would be a long-term transition – one that could be promoted by policies that reward efficiency, so that the most efficient aircraft are favored whenever replacement decisions are made.’
The researchers suggested that efficiency gains could be encouraged through a combination of policy instruments and market-based measures, including airline emissions rating schemes, performance-based landing fees, and carbon-intensity caps. They drew parallels with regulatory standards already applied in sectors such as household appliances and road vehicles.
“Efficiency-based policies have a great potential to curb aviation emissions, and can be in airlines’ own economic interest, but the reality is that many airlines continue to fly with old aircraft, low passenger occupancies, and growing proportions of premium-class seating,” said professor Stefan Gössling, lead author, Linnaeus University.