Pathways toward sustainable aviation: Analyzing emissions from air operations in Europe to support policy initiatives

Reducing aviation emissions has become a global priority, leading policymakers and industry stakeholders to commit to the achievement of net-zero carbon emissions. Reaching this ambitious goal requires quickly devising and promoting effective policies and measures. Emission levels are heavily influenced by the technological and operational efficiency of airlines and airports. Accordingly, understanding the main patterns underlying aviation emissions is fundamental for evaluating aviation efficiency, ultimately informing the adoption of appropriate policy interventions. In this context, the present study assessed the fuel efficiency and emission patterns of intra-European and intercontinental flights to and from Europe. We estimated the fuel efficiency and carbon intensity of different mission lengths and flight stages using a tool developed by the European Environment Agency and leveraging an extensive flight-level dataset. Our results highlight several critical areas that require policy intervention. First, we found that a relatively high proportion of overall emissions is due to landing and take-off procedures as well as on-ground activities. These emissions tend to be concentrated at major airports due to layout complexities and congestion, necessitating improvements in surface operations at the individual airport and system-wide levels. Second, regional routes represent the most carbon-intense travel segment, emphasizing the need for efficiency improvements. Promoting innovative aircraft technologies can greatly contribute to increase transportation efficiency and potentially improve the economic sustainability of these routes. Third, the majority of emissions from intra-European aviation occur on cross-border routes, underlying the need for coordinated European-level initiatives, such as strengthening cross-border high-speed rail services and implementing infrastructure investments to mitigate emissions.