August M
Carbon emissions from flights departing Europe have now exceeded levels recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to new research that raises questions about the aviation industry’s climate commitments.
The findings come despite years of promises from airlines to reduce pollution through cleaner technology and more fuel-efficient aircraft, reports The Guardian.
Budget airlines grow
Analysis from transport thinktank Transport & Environment (T&E) found European aviation produced 195 megatonnes of CO₂ in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by around 2%.
The report said the increase has been largely driven by the rapid expansion of low-cost airlines, particularly Ryanair.
According to the study, Ryanair alone generated 16.6 megatonnes of CO₂ last year, roughly equivalent to the annual emissions of Croatia.
The airline carried more than 200 million passengers in 2025, compared with about 140 million before the pandemic in 2019.
Carbon loopholes
T&E argued that Europe’s emissions trading system (ETS) fails to fully capture aviation pollution because it only applies to flights operating entirely within Europe.
That means long-haul international routes, which typically burn far more fuel, remain outside much of the system’s scope.
The thinktank highlighted London-to-New York traffic, which reportedly produced nearly 1.4 megatonnes of CO₂ in 2025 without being included in ETS charges.
According to the report, Ryanair pays around €50 per tonne of carbon under the scheme, while Lufthansa pays closer to €20 because of differences in flight operations.
Industry response
T&E is calling for the carbon market to cover all departing flights from Europe, arguing this could increase public revenues and speed up investment in sustainable aviation fuel.
Giacomo Miele, author of the analysis, said rising ticket prices were more closely linked to fossil fuel dependence than climate policies.
“Aviation emissions hitting a new high is a clear signal that the industry has no intention of cleaning up its act,” he said.
Ryanair defended its environmental performance, saying its emissions have risen because it is Europe’s fastest-growing airline while continuing to operate newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft.
A company spokesperson also criticised the emissions trading system as “completely discredited” because it excludes many long-haul carriers from paying equivalent carbon costs.
Sources: The Guardian, Transport & Environment
