The oneworld Alliance and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will collaborate on CO2 emission calculations. All 13 oneworld member airlines have pledged to share operational data with IATA’s CO2 Connect emissions calculator. This will enhance the tool’s accuracy and reliability by significantly increasing the utilization of airline-specific fuel consumption data. The following oneworld member airlines will contribute data: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, and SriLankan Airlines.

According to Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA‘s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Chief Economist, travelers desire to be well-informed about their carbon dioxide (CO2) impact. To meet this need, IATA CO2 Connect was developed to offer CO2 emission calculations using operational data. By being the first airline alliance to participate in this initiative, oneworld demonstrates the industry’s commitment to achieving uniformity and alignment in this area, with all 13 member airlines contributing data.

The collaboration between IATA and oneworld, airline alliance’s Environmental and Sustainability Board Chair, Grace Cheung of Cathay Pacific said, will assist major stakeholders in the aviation industry, such as airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and travel management companies, in making improved decisions for travelers and enhancing ESG reporting through CO2 Connect.

CO2 Connect was introduced by IATA in June 2022 to calculate per flight passenger CO2 emissions using data from member airlines, including fuel burn, belly cargo, and load factors. By combining this information with other IATA and open market data sources, CO2 Connect can accurately calculate CO2 emissions for 74 different aircraft types, which make up approximately 98% of the active global passenger fleet. Additionally, traffic data from 881 aircraft operators, representing around 93% of global air travel, is taken into account.

IATA CO2 Connect data calculations can be accessed by industry partners through an API or flat file, as well as through airline sales channels and travel management companies.

According to a recent survey, 90% of travelers believe it is their duty to be aware of the carbon emissions associated with their air travel. However, only 40% of them actually take the initiative to obtain this information. Additionally, 84% of the respondents agreed that it is simple to find reliable tools for estimating their carbon footprint. Surprisingly, despite this awareness, 90% of the individuals surveyed still rely on airlines or travel agents to furnish them with the necessary details regarding carbon impact, showcasing their expectation for the industry to be proactive in providing such information to passengers.

IATA CO2 Connect will undergo further enhancements and incorporate additional functionalities. Recently, a corporate reporting solution was introduced to facilitate precise reporting of CO2 emissions resulting from business travel. In the near future, CO2 compensation solutions will be introduced to assist airlines and other industry partners. Additionally, a Cargo calculator is currently being developed and is slated for release in 2024. This calculator will meet the demands of shippers and freight forwarders who require access to accurate CO2 emissions data obtained from real airline information.