The latest ranking published by Cirium confirms a major shift in air transport: carbon efficiency is now emerging as a strategic indicator. Long confined to CSR, this criterion is now becoming part of competitiveness strategies, with direct impacts for tourism professionals.
Summary
An indicator that has become central to the aviation industry
According to the specialized press, notably Déplacements Pros, the Cirium Flight Emissions Review 2025 report, published in April 2026, highlights the best performing companies in terms of emissions.
The ranking is based on a specific indicator: grams of CO₂ per available seat kilometer (ASK). This tool allows for a comparison of the carbon efficiency of airlines based on their capacity and actual activity.
The results show significant differences between market players, confirming that environmental performance is becoming a lever for differentiation.
Top-rated airlines
Among the top-performing companies, several models stand out.
Scoot comes out on top with an emission level of around 50 to 55 g of CO₂ per ASK, followed by Wizz Air and TUI Airways, also among the best performing airlines.
These results illustrate an important reality: carbon efficiency does not depend solely on low-cost or traditional positioning, but on a range of operational factors.
Other companies also feature among the top-ranked, although not all detailed data is systematically provided.
The levers used to improve carbon performance
The analysis of the report highlights several levers activated by the airlines.
Fleet renewal remains the most decisive factor. Newer aircraft consume less fuel and offer better environmental performance.
Cabin densification also plays a key role. By increasing the number of seats, emissions are spread over a larger number of passengers.
Optimizing operations, particularly flight trajectories and load factors, also contributes to improving results.
Finally, the average flight distance strongly influences the indicator, with takeoff and landing phases being the most energy-intensive.
An economic as well as an environmental issue
Beyond image, carbon efficiency is becoming a major economic issue.
Regulatory mechanisms, such as the ETS system in Europe or the CORSIA system internationally, are gradually integrating these indicators into operating costs.
The best-performing companies can thus limit their exposure to carbon taxes, while strengthening their attractiveness to certain customer segments.
For tourism professionals, this means that the choice of a company can have a direct impact on the pricing and positioning of offers.
Different business models, but common goals
The ranking shows that several models coexist among high-performing companies.
Low-cost carriers often benefit from structural advantages, with modern fleets and high load factors.
But some regular or leisure-oriented companies also manage to significantly improve their efficiency by optimizing their fleet and operations.
This convergence reflects a global transformation of the sector, where environmental performance is becoming an expected standard.
Avianca: an example of operational transformation
The report also highlights the case of Avianca, which illustrates the potential gains.
Between 2019 and 2024, the company increased its capacity while reducing its total emissions, thanks to a modernization of its fleet and an optimization of its operations.
Increasing the average size of aircraft and retiring older planes has significantly improved its carbon intensity.
This type of transformation shows that growth and emissions reduction are not incompatible, provided that operational models are adapted.
A criterion that is increasingly integrated into distribution
For travel agencies and tour operators, this data becomes commercially exploitable.
They make it possible to promote more responsible offerings, particularly to corporate or European clients who are increasingly sensitive to these issues.
They can also be used to differentiate products, by integrating carbon impact as a factor in choice on the same level as price or opening hours.
In the long term, these indicators could be directly integrated into booking tools, strengthening their weight in the purchasing decision.
A strong signal for the entire sector
The Cirium ranking confirms a fundamental trend: carbon performance is becoming a structuring criterion in aviation.
It influences both company strategies, customer expectations, and distributor decisions.
For tourism professionals, the challenge is to anticipate this development and gradually integrate this data into their offers and sales pitches.
As regulatory constraints become more stringent, these indicators could become essential.
In short
- Carbon efficiency is becoming a strategic indicator in the aviation industry
- Scoot, Wizz Air and TUI Airways are among the best performing airlines
- Fleet renewal remains the main lever for improvement
- Carbon regulations reinforce the economic impact of these performances
- A criterion increasingly used in tourism distribution
Sources
https://www.deplacementspros.com/transport/aerien/efficacite-carbone-quelles-sont-les-meilleures-compagnies-aeriennes
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