The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has made significant improvements to its IATA CO2 Connect emissions calculator, now incorporating the carbon emissions reductions resulting from the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This update follows the release of IATA’s SAF Accounting & Reporting Methodology, which provides clear guidelines for how SAF can be accounted for in per-passenger CO2 data.
Initially, CO2 Connect will apply uniform per-passenger emissions reductions across an airline’s entire network, with the reduction percentage based on total SAF purchases. However, future updates will allow for a more precise allocation of SAF-related reductions to specific routes, providing even greater accuracy in emissions tracking.
Frederic Leger, IATA’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Products and Services, emphasized the importance of transparency in emissions reporting: “Corporations and individual travelers want to understand the sustainability of their flying, and those investing in SAF specifically want to see the tangible impact of their efforts. By integrating the IATA SAF Accounting & Reporting Methodology into CO2 Connect, we are delivering the transparency and accuracy that both individuals and companies demand.”
Expansion of CO2 Connect Participants
The IATA CO2 Connect platform already uses real operational data from airlines, such as aircraft-specific fuel consumption, rather than relying on modeled averages. This approach enhances the accuracy of emissions calculations. Recently, several major carriers, including Air India, Air Astana, Air Europa, Amelia, Clic Air, Corsair, Hi Fly, Oman Air, Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas, and Royal Air Maroc, have joined the platform, bringing the total number of contributing airlines to approximately 60. As more airlines participate, the accuracy and transparency of CO2 Connect’s emissions calculations continue to improve, benefiting both individual travelers and corporate clients.
“With the strong support of our airline partners and the new ability to accurately factor SAF into our emissions calculations, IATA CO2 Connect is strengthening its role as a vital tool in aviation’s decarbonization journey,” said Leger. “This platform, grounded in global standards and high-quality data, empowers airlines, businesses, and travelers to make more informed decisions in the effort to reduce aviation’s environmental impact.”
IATA’s continued development of CO2 Connect underscores the growing importance of sustainability in aviation and the role of SAF in helping the industry achieve its decarbonization goals.
