European Airline Emissions Rise Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

Recent data shows that European aviation emissions in 2025 have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with some low-cost carriers seeing massive increases in total CO2 output. While airlines point to fuel-efficient aircraft, the growth in passenger volume is offsetting these technical gains. Critics argue that Europe's carbon pricing system is insufficient because it excludes long-haul flights. There are growing calls to expand the emissions trading system to all departing flights to fund sustainable aviation fuels and new decarbonization technologies.