Latest news with #Cirium
Travel Weekly
7 hours ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
The most emissions-efficient U.S. airline, according to Cirium: Frontier
Frontier Airlines is the most efficient carrier in North America and the second most efficient in the world, according to a new emissions calculation methodology developed by the airline industry data company Cirium. Frontier, with carbon dioxide emissions of 54.4 grams per available seat kilometer in 2024, was beat out only by Hungarian discount carrier Wizz Air, which emitted 53.9 grams of CO2 per seat kilometer last year, according to the Cirium analysis. As a point of comparison, lifecycle emissions of a simple cup of black coffee are 21 grams of carbon, according to CarbonClick, with emissions sometimes ballooning to many times more than that depending upon cultivation techniques, the type of cup used and whether the coffee is consumed with cream or other additives. Among the world's 10 largest airlines, as measured by total seat miles offered, Ryanair was the top emissions performer, emitting 63 grams of CO2 per available seat kilometer. The four U.S. carriers among the top 10 largest airlines ranked second through fifth respectively, with Southwest leading the way, followed by Delta, American and United. Southwest was the clear efficiency winner among those U.S. behemoths, with emissions of 68.9 grams per available seat kilometer. The other three were bunched closely together, emitting between 74.4 and 75.4 grams of CO2 per seat kilometer. How the ranking is calculated Cirium joins several entities that have developed methodologies for measuring aviation and airline carbon emissions, including Google, IATA, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the U.K.'s environmental department DEFRA and Cirium's competitor, OAG. But Cirium says its platform, called Emerald Sky, is the first to use real-time flight tracking data for its calculations instead of relying on projected or standard routes or forecasted route averages. To achieve its emissions estimates, the platform also considers actual air time and atmospheric conditions of a flight; aircraft and engine types; aircraft age; seating configurations; passenger loads; cargo loads; and taxi times. An airline's usage of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is not yet considered in the Emerald Sky formula because SAF accounts for only a tiny fraction of total jet fuel. Cirium chief strategy officer Kevin O'Toole said the company will include SAF in the algorithm once its accounts for 1% of global fuel consumption, which is about double its current contribution. Cirim said the methodology had been independently reviewed and validated by PricewaterhouseCoopers and by the Rocky Mountain Institute, a Boulder, Colo.-based environmental nonprofit. Why low-cost carriers are more CO2-efficient Overall, the Cirium Flight Emissions Review showed that dense seat configurations and modern fleets are airlines' primary levers for efficiency. All the 10 most efficient carriers have a low-cost model. Frontier achieved its second place ranking largely through its combination of densely configured cabins and a fleet that averages just four-and-a-half years of age. The other U.S. airline in the top 10 is low-cost carrier Spirit, with a fleet-age average of 6.3 years of age. Full-service airlines, which offer first and business class cabins, tend to have higher emission on an available seat kilometer basis. "Seat density and fleet age matter more than almost any other factor airlines can control," chief Cirium marketing officer Mike Malik wrote. "While industry leaders are succeeding through these operational strategies, it also highlights how limited the levers for emissions reductions really are compared to the scale of the challenge." The airline industry has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Skift
10 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
What Makes an Airline 'Emissions-Efficient'? See the Top 10 Rankings
Some airlines are becoming more efficient, but overall emissions are still growing as the sector grows. The bigger picture is how fast aviation is expanding, and what that means for the climate. Wizz Air has been named the most emissions-efficient airline in a new climate ranking from aviation analytics firm Cirium. The Hungarian low-cost carrier emits around 54 grams of CO₂ per seat per kilometer, according to the review, which was verified by PwC and is the first of its kind in the industry. That efficiency measure is driven by several key factors, starting with Wizz Air's relatively young fleet. The airline's planes average around four years old, and many are up to 25% more fuel-efficient than older aircraft. Seat configuration plays a role too. Low-cost carriers typically cram more seats into each plane, which reduces emissions per passenger. One often-overlooked detail: how long a plane spends taxiing on the ground. That process can at times account for as much as 20% of a flight's total emissions. Cirium's ranking lists airlines that are moving to newer generation aircraft. Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions Not Accounted For However, the ranking does not account for total greenhouse gas emissions or the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which the industry says could cut a flight's carbon footprint by up to 80%. Wizz Air, for example, is still one of Europe's most polluting airlines. It's also among the fastest-growing, with over 70 new planes on order. Since 2019, Wizz Air's total emissions have nearly doubled, from 3,734,556 tonnes in 2019 to 7,962,308 tonnes in 2024, according to a report from Transport and Environment and the airline's own sustainability data. Yvonne Moynihan, the group's ESG officer, previously told Skift that the rise in emissions is linked to the airline's rapid growth under its 'WIZZ500' strategy, which aims to double 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.' Moynihan acknowledged that reducing emissions while expanding is a significant challenge and that deeper cuts will depend on scaling up SAF, which is still barely used across the industry. 'We are actively pursuing fleet renewal and operational efficiency,' she said. 'But broader reforms are needed across the industry to ensure success.' Cirium excluded SAF from its 2024 analysis because it currently makes up just 0.53% of global aviation fuel use. 'SAF still emits CO₂,' said Jeremy Bowen, CEO of Cirium. 'But today it makes up a very small fraction of fuel use. In the future, if SAF use ramps up, it will be taken into account.' How Airlines Ranked Cirium ranked airlines by CO₂ emissions per seat per kilometer in grams. Here are the top performers: Wizz Air: 53.9 grams of CO₂ per seat per kilometer Frontier Airlines: 54.4 Pegasus: 57.1 Volaris: 57.9 IndiGo: 58.2 Jetstar: 58.4 Spirit Airlines: 58.4 Scoot: 58.7 SunExpress: 59.4 Air India Express: 60.5 Another Cirium list looked at the largest airlines in the world by passengers. It then ranked them by emissions-efficiency. Ryanair: 63 grams of CO₂ per seat per kilometer Southwest Airlines: 68.9 Delta Air Lines: 74.4 American Airlines: 74.6 United Airlines: 75.4 Turkish Airlines: 76.9 China Southern: 78.2 Qatar Airways: 79.7 Air China: 83.3 Emirates: 84.9 Cirium told Skift that while the ranking allows for fair comparison between airlines of different sizes and fleet types, it doesn't capture the full picture, such as the total emissions growth of airlines or the climate impact of individual companies. 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.
Business Upturn
13 hours ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Wizz Air Tops Major Airline Emissions Rankings
Business Wire India Wizz Air is the world's most emissions-efficient airline in new rankings released today by Cirium, the aviation analytics firm. The Cirium Flight Emissions Review ranks the top 20 airlines globally, through a consistent benchmark for flight emissions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: The top 20 Major airlines globally, ranked by lowest CO2/ASK Wizz Air, the Hungary-based ultra-low-cost airline emits an industry low of 53.9 grams of CO₂ per Available Seat Kilometer (ASK)*, followed by Frontier Airlines (54.4 grams) and Pegasus (57.1 grams) according to the report. The rankings provide the aviation industry with verified comparable data on an equal playing field as the sector advances toward Net Zero by 2050 commitments. The rankings performance use Cirium's EmeraldSky platform, which achieved ISAE 3000 Reasonable Assurance from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and official accreditation from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). Wizz Air, Frontier, and Pegasus Top 3; The Top 20 Major Airlines Ranked by CO2 Emissions/ASK The top 20 Major airlines globally are presented in the corresponding tables. Of note is the performance of Indigo, top in Asia, Volaris, top in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Jetstar, for its performance in Australia. The CO2/ASK Emissions of the World's Largest Airlines Cirium's reporting also ranked the 10 largest airlines in the world by ASK. At the head of the table is Ryanair, followed by Southwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Each of the major U.S. carriers earned spots at the table, while Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airlines and Emirates rounded out a group of primarily long-haul operators. Enabling Fair Comparison Across the Industry 'For the first time, airlines can compare their emissions performance using a consistent, verified methodology,' said Jeremy Bowen, CEO at Cirium. "EmeraldSky provides the industry-standard benchmark that enables fair comparison and meaningful progress tracking." The comprehensive Review analyzed global operations using dual-accredited methodology, with the full report containing extensive findings across: Global Category Rankings showing the top 20 Major airlines and the World's 10 largest airlines by CO₂ per Available Seat Kilometer showing the top 20 Major airlines and the World's 10 largest airlines by CO₂ per Available Seat Kilometer Regional Performance breakdowns showing which airlines excel on intra-region and inter-region routes breakdowns showing which airlines excel on intra-region and inter-region routes Route-Level Improvements identifying specific airport pairs with the greatest efficiency gains identifying specific airport pairs with the greatest efficiency gains Operational Insights revealing how fleet composition, load factors, and route optimization drive performance differences The Review provides comprehensive operational insights that support industry-wide efficiency improvements, offering actionable intelligence for aviation stakeholders committed to sustainability progress. Setting New Industry Transparency Standards EmeraldSky's methodology achieved the highest level of assurance under International Standard on Assurance Engagements through rigorous independent review. The Rocky Mountain Institute's accreditation under the Pegasus Guidelines validates the approach for climate-aligned aviation financing, enabling banks and investors to make informed decisions based on verified emissions data. This standardized approach addresses aviation's fragmented sustainability reporting, where inconsistent methodologies have made meaningful comparisons impossible. The verified benchmark enables airlines to assess their operational efficiency accurately, investors to evaluate performance reliably, and corporations to report Scope 3 emissions with confidence. Quarterly Updates Drive Accountability The Flight Emissions Review will be updated quarterly, tracking performance changes and operational improvements across the industry. With hundreds of data points and detailed analysis across multiple categories, the report provides the most comprehensive view of aviation emissions performance available. Access the Complete Rankings and Analysis The full Flight Emissions Review, including detailed carrier rankings, regional breakdowns, route-specific analysis, and operational insights, is available for download at Notes to Editors * Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) is a metric in the airline industry that represents the total passenger capacity of an airline About Cirium Cirium® is the world's most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth. Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. Download the complete Flight Emissions Review with full rankings, regional analysis, and operational insights at View source version on Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India. Business Upturn take no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
National Post
16 hours ago
- Business
- National Post
Wizz Air Tops Major Airline Emissions Rankings
Article content Cirium, the aviation analytics company, creates a new transparent standard and ranking for airline CO2 emissions, identifying the best performing airlines in specific categories Article content LONDON — Wizz Air is the world's most emissions-efficient airline in new rankings released today by Cirium, the aviation analytics firm. The Cirium Flight Emissions Review ranks the top 20 airlines globally, through a consistent benchmark for flight emissions. Article content Wizz Air, the Hungary-based ultra-low-cost airline emits an industry low of 53.9 grams of CO₂ per Available Seat Kilometer (ASK)*, followed by Frontier Airlines (54.4 grams) and Pegasus (57.1 grams) according to the report. Article content The rankings provide the aviation industry with verified comparable data on an equal playing field as the sector advances toward Net Zero by 2050 commitments. The rankings performance use Cirium's EmeraldSky platform, which achieved ISAE 3000 Reasonable Assurance from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and official accreditation from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). Article content Wizz Air, Frontier, and Pegasus Top 3; The Top 20 Major Airlines Ranked by CO2 Emissions/ASK Article content The top 20 Major airlines globally are presented in the corresponding tables. Article content Of note is the performance of Indigo, top in Asia, Volaris, top in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Jetstar, for its performance in Australia. Article content The CO2/ASK Emissions of the World's Largest Airlines Article content Cirium's reporting also ranked the 10 largest airlines in the world by ASK. At the head of the table is Ryanair, followed by Southwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Each of the major U.S. carriers earned spots at the table, while Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airlines and Emirates rounded out a group of primarily long-haul operators. Article content Enabling Fair Comparison Across the Industry Article content 'For the first time, airlines can compare their emissions performance using a consistent, verified methodology,' said Jeremy Bowen, CEO at Cirium. 'EmeraldSky provides the industry-standard benchmark that enables fair comparison and meaningful progress tracking.' Article content The comprehensive Review analyzed global operations using dual-accredited methodology, with the full report containing extensive findings across: Article content Global Category Rankings showing the top 20 Major airlines and the World's 10 largest airlines by CO₂ per Available Seat Kilometer Regional Performance breakdowns showing which airlines excel on intra-region and inter-region routes Route-Level Improvements identifying specific airport pairs with the greatest efficiency gains Operational Insights revealing how fleet composition, load factors, and route optimization drive performance differences Article content The Review provides comprehensive operational insights that support industry-wide efficiency improvements, offering actionable intelligence for aviation stakeholders committed to sustainability progress. Article content Setting New Industry Transparency Standards Article content EmeraldSky's methodology achieved the highest level of assurance under International Standard on Assurance Engagements through rigorous independent review. The Rocky Mountain Institute's accreditation under the Pegasus Guidelines validates the approach for climate-aligned aviation financing, enabling banks and investors to make informed decisions based on verified emissions data. Article content This standardized approach addresses aviation's fragmented sustainability reporting, where inconsistent methodologies have made meaningful comparisons impossible. The verified benchmark enables airlines to assess their operational efficiency accurately, investors to evaluate performance reliably, and corporations to report Scope 3 emissions with confidence. Article content Quarterly Updates Drive Accountability Article content The Flight Emissions Review will be updated quarterly, tracking performance changes and operational improvements across the industry. With hundreds of data points and detailed analysis across multiple categories, the report provides the most comprehensive view of aviation emissions performance available. Article content Access the Complete Rankings and Analysis Article content The full Flight Emissions Review, including detailed carrier rankings, regional breakdowns, route-specific analysis, and operational insights, is available for download at Article content Notes to Editors Article content * Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) is a metric in the airline industry that represents the total passenger capacity of an airline Article content About Cirium Article content Cirium ® is the world's most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth. Article content Cirium ® is part of LexisNexis ® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contact Article content : Article content Article content Article content Article content
Business Wire
17 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Wizz Air Tops Major Airline Emissions Rankings
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wizz Air is the world's most emissions-efficient airline in new rankings released today by Cirium, the aviation analytics firm. The Cirium Flight Emissions Review ranks the top 20 airlines globally, through a consistent benchmark for flight emissions. Wizz Air, the Hungary-based ultra-low-cost airline emits an industry low of 53.9 grams of CO₂ per Available Seat Kilometer (ASK)*, followed by Frontier Airlines (54.4 grams) and Pegasus (57.1 grams) according to the report. The rankings provide the aviation industry with verified comparable data on an equal playing field as the sector advances toward Net Zero by 2050 commitments. The rankings performance use Cirium's EmeraldSky platform, which achieved ISAE 3000 Reasonable Assurance from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and official accreditation from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). Wizz Air, Frontier, and Pegasus Top 3; The Top 20 Major Airlines Ranked by CO2 Emissions/ASK The top 20 Major airlines globally are presented in the corresponding tables. Of note is the performance of Indigo, top in Asia, Volaris, top in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Jetstar, for its performance in Australia. The CO2/ASK Emissions of the World's Largest Airlines Cirium's reporting also ranked the 10 largest airlines in the world by ASK. At the head of the table is Ryanair, followed by Southwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Each of the major U.S. carriers earned spots at the table, while Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airlines and Emirates rounded out a group of primarily long-haul operators. Enabling Fair Comparison Across the Industry 'For the first time, airlines can compare their emissions performance using a consistent, verified methodology,' said Jeremy Bowen, CEO at Cirium. "EmeraldSky provides the industry-standard benchmark that enables fair comparison and meaningful progress tracking." The comprehensive Review analyzed global operations using dual-accredited methodology, with the full report containing extensive findings across: Global Category Rankings showing the top 20 Major airlines and the World's 10 largest airlines by CO₂ per Available Seat Kilometer Regional Performance breakdowns showing which airlines excel on intra-region and inter-region routes Route-Level Improvements identifying specific airport pairs with the greatest efficiency gains Operational Insights revealing how fleet composition, load factors, and route optimization drive performance differences The Review provides comprehensive operational insights that support industry-wide efficiency improvements, offering actionable intelligence for aviation stakeholders committed to sustainability progress. Setting New Industry Transparency Standards EmeraldSky's methodology achieved the highest level of assurance under International Standard on Assurance Engagements through rigorous independent review. The Rocky Mountain Institute's accreditation under the Pegasus Guidelines validates the approach for climate-aligned aviation financing, enabling banks and investors to make informed decisions based on verified emissions data. This standardized approach addresses aviation's fragmented sustainability reporting, where inconsistent methodologies have made meaningful comparisons impossible. The verified benchmark enables airlines to assess their operational efficiency accurately, investors to evaluate performance reliably, and corporations to report Scope 3 emissions with confidence. Quarterly Updates Drive Accountability The Flight Emissions Review will be updated quarterly, tracking performance changes and operational improvements across the industry. With hundreds of data points and detailed analysis across multiple categories, the report provides the most comprehensive view of aviation emissions performance available. Access the Complete Rankings and Analysis The full Flight Emissions Review, including detailed carrier rankings, regional breakdowns, route-specific analysis, and operational insights, is available for download at Notes to Editors * Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) is a metric in the airline industry that represents the total passenger capacity of an airline About Cirium Cirium ® is the world's most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth. Cirium ® is part of LexisNexis ® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
