Airline emissions in Europe top pre-Covid levels despite pledge to decarbonise
Summary
Emissions from flying in Europe have gone above the levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic. Ryanair’s carbon emissions in 2025 are 50% higher than in 2019 due to its fast growth and more passengers, even though planes are now more fuel-efficient. The EU’s current system to limit pollution from flights only applies to flights within Europe and does not cover long-haul flights, which produce a large amount of CO₂.Key Facts
- Ryanair’s CO₂ emissions in 2025 reached 16.6 million tonnes, similar to the yearly emissions of a small European country like Croatia.
- Ryanair carried over 200 million passengers in 2025, up from 140 million in 2019.
- Total CO₂ emissions from European aviation were 195 million tonnes in 2025, a 2% increase compared to before Covid.
- The EU’s emissions trading system (ETS) only covers flights entirely within Europe, excluding many long-haul flights that use more fuel.
- Ryanair pays about €50 per tonne of carbon under ETS, while Lufthansa pays about €20.
- Flights between London and New York generated nearly 1.4 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2025 but are not included in the ETS.
- Experts suggest expanding ETS to cover all departing flights to raise more money and help fund cleaner aviation fuels and methods to reduce climate impact.
- Ryanair claims its emissions per passenger are falling thanks to newer, fuel-efficient planes and that it has lower emissions per passenger kilometer compared to big legacy airlines.
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