Why Some Airlines Pollute More: 20 Ranked on Fuel Efficiency
Two key factors contribute to a big gap in performance between the most and least efficient.
Those roomy, plush first-class seats on international flights come at a hefty cost—not just for your wallet, but also for the climate.
They take up more space, allowing fewer passengers per flight, so first- and business-class seats have an outsize carbon footprint. Airlines that flew with more of those premium tickets in 2014 fared worse on fuel efficiency, according to a ranking this week from the International Council on Clean Transportation, the nonprofit group whose research touched off the Volkswagen emissions scandal.
As UN climate talks convene later this month in Paris, airlines will be part of the discussion. Their planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions are set to triple by 2050, and they’ll face increasing pressure to cut pollution—along with power
