Airplane carbon footprint: What is the impact of a flight?
Reading 10 min
February 22, 2025
The carbon footprint of a flight depends on the distance, the type of aircraft and the number of passengers. On average, a flight emits several hundred kilos of CO₂ per passenger for a short to medium distance journey. Long flights and higher classes increase this footprint due to fuel consumption and the space required.
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Aircraft carbon footprint: definition
The carbon footprint of a flight is the amount of CO₂ emitted into the atmosphere during an air journey. It represents the environmental impact of fuel combustion and other processes, and is measured in kilograms or tons of CO₂ per passenger. On average, a flight emits between 90 and 250 grams of CO₂ per passenger-kilometer.
How is the carbon footprint of a flight calculated?
The carbon footprint of a flight is calculated by taking into account several elements:
- the fuel consumption of the aircraft,
- the number of passengers,
- the flight class (economy, business, first). The flight class influences the emissions per passenger, as larger seats take up more space and increase fuel consumption per person.
The amount of emissions is then measured in kilograms of CO₂ per passenger. This figure is obtained by dividing the total emissions of the flight by the number of passengers, depending on their class. The aim is to provide an individual estimate of the environmental impact for each air journey.
Factors increasing the carbon footprint of a flight
Several factors influence the carbon footprint of a flight:
Distance and duration: Long flights emit more CO₂ due to increased fuel consumption over longer distances. However, short flights generate more emissions per kilometre flown due to take-off and landing.
Travel class: Business or first class passengers take up more space, increasing emissions per person compared to economy class.
Aircraft type and age: Modern aircraft are often more fuel efficient, while older models consume more fuel, increasing the overall carbon footprint.
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Comparing emissions between air travel and other modes of transport
Do cars pollute more than planes?
The comparison between the pollution of a plane flight and a car journey depends on several factors, including the distance travelled, the number of passengers and the type of vehicle used. On average, a plane emits between 90 and 250 grams of CO₂ per passenger-kilometre, while a private car emits around 120 grams per kilometre. However, this value can vary depending on the vehicle model, its engine (petrol, diesel, electric) and the occupancy rate.
Over long distances, a flight can be more polluting than a car journey, especially when carpooling is used, thus reducing emissions per person. In addition, over short journeys, the plane is less energy efficient, as the take-off and landing phases account for a large part of the fuel consumption.
On the other hand, a car in the city, used alone and regularly stuck in traffic jams, can be more polluting than a long-haul flight, in particular due to indirect emissions linked to traffic jams and excessive fuel consumption.
Thus, the choice between flying and driving depends on the context. Favoring carpooling or an electric car significantly reduces the carbon footprint of road transport, while optimizing air travel and using biofuels can improve the environmental impact of air transport.
Which transport pollutes the most?
Transport is one of the most polluting sectors in the world, but not all modes of transport are equal in terms of CO₂ emissions. Air travel is among the most polluting per passenger-kilometer, particularly on short-haul flights where fuel consumption is the highest. On average, a flight emits between 90 and 250 g of CO₂ per kilometer and per passenger, compared to 50 g for a train and 120 g for a private car.
Maritime transport, although often seen as a more environmentally friendly alternative, remains a major contributor to GHG emissions. Cargo ships, for example, mainly run on heavy fuel oil, a highly polluting fuel. However, when optimized, maritime transport is more energy efficient than air transport for transporting goods.
The train is one of the most environmentally friendly means of transport, especially when it runs on electricity from renewable sources. It emits up to ten times less CO₂ than a flight on an equivalent journey. Similarly, public transport such as electric buses and trams have a much lower carbon footprint than private vehicles.
Thus, to reduce the environmental impact of travel, it is recommended to opt for alternatives such as the train or carpooling when possible. Optimising routes and using more sustainable means of transport are key solutions to limit the sector’s emissions.
Tools to calculate the carbon footprint of your flight
There are several online calculators that can estimate the carbon footprint of a flight, such as Atmosfair or MyClimate. These tools rely on different data such as the distance travelled, the type of aircraft used, fuel consumption, the number of stopovers and the class of travel to determine the amount of CO₂ emitted per passenger.
The calculators also take into account the energy efficiency of airlines, with some being more efficient than others in terms of reducing emissions. By entering the details of your flight, it is possible to obtain a precise estimate of your environmental impact, expressed in kilograms or tonnes of CO₂.
Some tools go further by offering carbon offsetting solutions, and by suggesting contributions to ecological projects such as reforestation or the development of renewable energies. These platforms allow travelers to become aware of their impact and adopt a more responsible approach to air transport emissions.
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What are the solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of your flight?
If you wish, it is possible to reduce the carbon footprint of a flight, by applying several tips that minimize the CO₂ emissions associated with air travel:
Choosing an airline is a first lever for action to reduce the carbon footprint of a flight. Indeed, some airlines are investing in newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft, using biofuels and implementing emission reduction policies. Choosing a company committed to the ecological transition thus helps to limit its impact when traveling by plane.
Favoring direct flights is another effective solution to reduce the carbon footprint of a flight. The takeoff and landing phases represent a significant part of a flight's fuel consumption. Thus, reducing stopovers avoids unnecessary overconsumption and reduces the total carbon footprint of the journey.
Traveling in economy class also helps to reduce emissions per passenger. Indeed, on an airplane, business and first class seats take up more space and mechanically increase the amount of fuel consumed per traveler. By opting for economy class, the carbon impact is spread over a greater number of passengers, thus reducing individual emissions.
Limiting the use of planes by favouring more sustainable alternatives is another key solution to limit your emissions. For short distances, the train is often a more environmentally friendly option, emitting up to ten times less CO₂ per passenger-kilometre. Similarly, carpooling or long-distance buses can be effective solutions to reduce your carbon footprint.
Finally, choosing to travel light also helps reduce the fuel consumption of a flight. A more heavily loaded plane requires more energy to take off and fly, which results in additional GHG emissions. Reducing the weight of baggage is therefore a simple action, but one that can have a beneficial effect on the carbon footprint of a plane flight.
Carbon offsetting alternatives for air travel
Carbon offsetting for air travel aims to neutralize, in part, the environmental impact of flights by financing initiatives that reduce or capture CO₂ emissions. These alternatives are increasingly adopted by airlines and travelers concerned with limiting their ecological footprint.
One of the main methods of offsetting is the purchase of carbon credits. These credits finance certified projects that promote the reduction of emissions on a global scale. Among these different projects, one of the most popular is reforestation. Indeed, planting trees allows atmospheric CO₂ to be naturally captured while promoting biodiversity and combating deforestation. However, this solution takes time, as a tree takes several decades to reach its full carbon absorption capacity.
The development of renewable energies is another effective alternative in the context of carbon offsetting. Financing wind, solar or hydroelectric farms helps replace fossil fuels and encourage the energy transition. In addition, some initiatives aim to improve energy efficiency in key sectors, such as the distribution of more energy-efficient cookstoves in developing countries, thereby reducing wood consumption and associated emissions.
However, carbon offsetting should not be seen as a miracle solution. Indeed, it does not eliminate emissions at source and should not be an excuse to maintain high levels of pollution. To be effective, it must be coupled with concrete actions to reduce flights, adopt more sustainable practices and increase awareness among travelers. The aim is to rethink travel habits in order to favor less emitting solutions, while actively supporting effective environmental projects.
The role of new technologies in aviation
The aviation industry is undergoing a major transformation to reduce its environmental impact, and new technologies are playing a key role in this transition. Research and innovation are focusing on various areas, including improving fuels, electrifying aircraft, and optimizing aircraft performance.
One of the major advances is based on biofuels and synthetic fuels, which could gradually replace fossil kerosene. Biofuels, produced from organic materials (used oils, algae, agricultural residues), can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional fuels.
However, their large-scale production still poses challenges in terms of availability and costs. Synthetic fuels, made from captured CO₂ and renewable hydrogen, are also promising, although their industrialization is still under development.
In addition, electric and hydrogen aircraft represent innovative solutions for the future of aviation. Electric engines could equip small aircraft on short routes, thus drastically reducing local emissions and noise pollution. Hydrogen, on the other hand, offers a clean alternative with a near-zero carbon footprint, but requires specific infrastructure and advanced storage technology before mass adoption in the aviation sector.
The energy efficiency of aircraft is also constantly improving. New lighter composite materials, optimized aerodynamic shapes and more efficient engines make it possible to reduce fuel consumption and therefore the emissions generated during a flight. Artificial intelligence and advanced algorithms are also used to optimize flight routes and minimize energy consumption.
Public policies and environmental regulations also play a decisive role in the transformation of the aviation sector. The European Union, for example, is imposing a gradual reduction in CO₂ emissions in aviation and encouraging the adoption of sustainable fuels through financial incentives and regulatory obligations. Taxes on the most polluting flights and investments in research are accelerating the development of green technologies in this sector.
Thanks to these various advances, tomorrow’s aviation could be more environmentally friendly, while maintaining an optimal level of performance and safety. The challenge now is to accelerate the implementation of these innovations and promote their large-scale adoption for a successful ecological transition in the aviation sector.
