Cirium has released its global flight emissions review, naming Hungary’s Wizz Air as the most emission-efficient airline globally with just 53.9 grams of CO2 per available seat kilometre (ASK).
Global Flight Emission Overview
Cirium determines the top performers based on ASK – the grams of CO2 released per available seat kilometre as it evaluates the output that airlines have control over through aircraft efficiency, seating density, and route optimisation.
In the report, it reflects on how the top-performing airlines shared similar strategies that focused on operating newer fleets and using high-density cabin configurations. These changes create real advantages in the challenge of lowering emissions. Cirium chose to only focus on the top 20 airlines to demonstrate the changes that work to promote the implementation of environmental practices. Though these airlines are successful in lowering their ASK, Cirium highlights that the total emissions are still rising due to the demand growth and that operational improvements alone will make only a small difference.
Wizz Air’s Sustainability
As one of Hungary’s top airlines, Wizz Air maintain one of the lowest emissions intensity rates in Europe through their fuel-saving initiatives and continuous modernisation of technology. They are consistently taking measures to reduce their carbon footprint, establishing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) strategies and making equity investments into SAF research and development projects. Additionally, the company has developed their own aspirational net-zero roadmap with a focus on flights, fuel, and footprints.
The Future Of Emissions In Aviation
Industry-wide steps are being taken to reduce carbon footprints and increase sustainability. Younger fleets are a big step in efficiency, and as fleet renewal is increasing across airlines, efficiency variations are expected to narrow. Cirium notes that SAF was not factored into their report, but would have a positive impact on emission findings. Mike Malik, Chief Marketing Officer for Cirium, argues aviation needs a standardised framework in which to measure performance for regulatory requirements and passenger awareness. Malik adds:
“Until airlines have consistent access to meaningful volumes (of SAF), operational efficiency remains the only primary lever they can pull today.”
What are your thoughts on Cirium’s latest report?
