International Air Transport Association upgrades CO2 Connect, integrating Sustainable Aviation Fuel to enhance airline emissions tracking and sustainability.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has significantly upgraded its IATA CO2 Connect emissions calculator by incorporating reductions in carbon emissions associated with the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This enhancement aims to provide a more precise and transparent measurement of aviation-related emissions, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to sustainability.
Advancing SAF Accounting and Reporting
This development follows the recent release of the IATA SAF Accounting & Reporting Methodology, which establishes standardized accounting rules and best practices for including SAF in per-passenger CO2 data. In its initial phase, CO2 Connect will distribute emission reductions uniformly across an airline’s network, ensuring that all flights receive an equal percentage reduction based on the total SAF procured. Future updates will refine this approach, allowing SAF-related emission reductions to be assigned to specific routes, further enhancing accuracy and accountability.
Expanding Participation in CO2 Connect
IATA CO2 Connect leverages actual operational data, including aircraft type-specific fuel consumption figures directly supplied by airlines. This distinguishes it from other calculators that rely on generalized modeling and assumptions.
The tool’s credibility continues to grow as more airlines join the initiative. The latest additions—Air India, Air Astana, Air Europa, Amelia, Clic Air, Corsair, Hi Fly, Oman Air, Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas, and Royal Air Maroc—bring the total number of contributing airlines to approximately 60. Each new participant enhances the precision and reliability of CO2 Connect’s emissions calculations, benefiting both individual travelers and corporate users seeking accurate sustainability metrics.
As IATA continues to refine its emissions calculation methodologies, CO2 Connect remains a crucial tool in fostering transparency and progress in sustainable aviation.
“Corporations and individual travelers want to clearly understand how sustainable their flying is. And, particularly if they have invested in SAF, they want to know what impact it is having. By enhancing CO2 Connect with the IATA SAF Accounting and Reporting Methodology we are providing the transparency and accuracy that individuals and corporates demand,” said Frederic Leger, IATA’s Senior Vice President Commercial Products and Services.
“With the strong support of all our participating airlines and the new ability to accurately account for SAF in the calculation, IATA CO2 Connect is going from strength to strength. It is a powerful tool to support aviation’s decarbonization powered by global standard methodologies and high-quality data,” said Leger.
