Recent analysis indicates that aircraft emissions from the European sector have surpassed pre-Covid levels, with Ryanair’s carbon footprint increasing by 50% since 2019. Despite commitments from the industry to reduce emissions and adopt more fuel-efficient aircraft, total aviation emissions continue to rise, driven largely by the expansion of low-cost carriers.
In 2025, Ryanair’s CO₂ emissions alone reached 16.6 megatonnes, comparable to the annual emissions of Croatia. The airline increased passenger numbers from 140 million in 2019 to over 200 million, contributing significantly to the sector’s emissions increase. Overall, the European aviation sector emitted 195 million tonnes of CO₂ in departing flights last year, representing a 2% rise from pre-pandemic levels.
Limitations of Current Emission Measures
Although the EU and UK have implemented the emissions trading system (ETS), the analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that most sector emissions are not priced into this system, as it only covers intra-European flights. Consequently, long-haul flights operated by larger carriers and burning more fuel remain outside the ETS scope. For example, long-haul flights like London to New York are excluded despite their substantial emissions.
"Ticket prices are rising because of Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels, not because of the climate measures intended to steer the sector away from them," said Giacomo Miele, author of the report.
T&E advocates for extending the carbon market to include all departing flights to generate additional revenue and accelerate decarbonisation efforts, including investment in sustainable aviation fuels and contrail mitigation. The current carbon pricing model is deemed insufficient, especially considering fuel price volatility, which adds significantly to passenger costs.
Industry responses include claims that growth on fuel-efficient aircraft displaces less efficient carriers and that the current ETS emissions figures are discredited due to exemptions for certain flights. Experts argue that without broader measures, aviation’s environmental impact will continue to worsen.
