Wizz Air Cuts Emissions Per Passenger, But Climate Impact Is Rising
Wizz Air, a Hungarian low-cost carrier, has cut emissions per passenger to some of the lowest levels in the industry. But as the airline rapidly expands, its overall climate impact is rising, with total emissions more than doubling since 2019.
In its latest sustainability report for the year ending March 2025, the low-cost airline said its carbon intensity - a measure of emissions per passenger - fell to 52.2 grams of CO₂ per passenger-kilometer.
That's lower than many of Wizz's rivals and the airline credits the low level to investment in part to more fuel-efficient aircraft.
Low-cost carriers like Wizz, Ryanair and EasyJet tend to have lower emissions per passenger than traditional airlines because they carry more people per flight. No business class, fewer empty seats, and tight cabin configurations all mean more passengers are sharing each litre of fuel.
In 2024, EasyJet reported 66.64 grams per passenger kilometre on average, while Ryanair averaged around 64 grams.
Fleet Strategy vs. Emissions Reality
Wizz added 26 new Airbus A321neo jets over the year, bringing its total fleet to 231 aircraft.
Most of those are NEO models, which are significantly more fuel efficient. Wizz said it aims to operate an all-NEO fleet by 2029.
'Our emissions per passenger remain among the lowest in the industry,' said Yvonne Moynihan, Wizz Air's Corporate and ESG Officer. 'This underscores our commitment to minimizing environmental impact on a per-flight basis.'
Because of the growth, despite carbon intensity improvements, Wizz Air's absolute emissions have nearly doubled since 2019, a reminder that efficiency alone doesn't equate to sustainability.
Moynihan attributed the rise to rapid expansion under Wizz Air's 'WIZZ500' vision, which targets a doubling of the fleet by 2033.
'This growth contributes to higher overall emissions,' she said. 'But we emphasize carbon intensity per passenger-kilometer as a more relevant metric for assessing environmental impact.'
Long-Term Net Zero Strategy
Wizz Air reiterated its ambition to reduce their emissions to almost zero by 2050. The company said that this is structured around three pillars:
Aircraft fleet renewal: This will account for 30% of the planned reduction.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF): 53% of total fuel use by 2050.
Air traffic management and operational improvements: To help reduce emission by 4%.
Moynihan acknowledged that deeper emissions cuts will depend on scaling up SAF, which remains marginal across the industry. Wizz has not disclosed the current share of SAF in its operations.
'We are actively pursuing fleet renewal and operational efficiency,' Moynihan said. 'But broader reforms are needed across the industry to ensure success.'
Skift's in-depth reporting on climate issues is made possible through the financial support of Intrepid Travel. This backing allows Skift to bring you high-quality journalism on one of the most important topics facing our planet today. Intrepid is not involved in any decisions made by Skift's editorial team.
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