The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding aimed at bringing greater transparency and consistency to the way CO₂ emissions are calculated and displayed to airline passengers. Announced on 20 November 2025, the agreement seeks to align the EU’s emerging Flight Emissions Label with IATA’s existing sustainability data platforms, EcoHub and the CO₂ Connect calculator.
The initiative reflects a growing industry push towards clearer, more comparable emissions information as travellers increasingly prioritise environmental performance when booking flights. Central to the agreement is a plan to streamline the data processes used by airlines, reducing administrative burdens while improving reliability and accuracy.
Towards Transparent Emissions at Time of Booking
The EU Flight Emissions Label, created under a 2024 European Commission regulation and implemented by EASA, aims to provide passengers with trustworthy, standardised emissions data for each flight. The label is designed to help travellers make informed choices when comparing airline options within the European market.
IATA’s EcoHub platform, already widely used for sustainability reporting and regulatory compliance, along with the association’s CO₂ Connect calculator, uses operational airline data to generate accurate emissions estimates. These data points closely match the requirements for the EU Flight Emissions Label, making harmonisation a logical next step.
Through the new collaboration, EASA and IATA intend to explore common processes that will allow airlines to join the Flight Emissions Label scheme more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Industry Leaders Voice Support
EASA Executive Director Florian Guillermet said the partnership with IATA would make it easier for airlines around the world to participate in the scheme. He emphasised that a larger pool of airlines would ultimately provide passengers with clearer and more reliable emissions information.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh highlighted the increasing demand for transparent, high-quality environmental data. He stressed that regulatory expectations and customer trust depend on accuracy, and that harmonising emissions methodologies would help streamline data exchange while lowering long-term costs for airlines.
The signing took place during IATA’s Wings of Change Europe conference in Brussels on 18–19 November 2025.
A Unified Approach to Emissions Disclosure
The Flight Emissions Label is available to both EU and non-EU airlines that fall under the scope of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation (EU) 2023/2405. Participation is voluntary, but only airlines that formally join are permitted to display emissions data to passengers within the EU.
The European Commission and EASA are actively encouraging airlines to adopt the system, particularly those wishing to show emissions performance when offering sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) options or other offsetting mechanisms.
By digitalising reporting and standardising methodologies, the label is expected to reduce administrative complexity across the sector, a goal that aligns closely with IATA’s ongoing sustainability initiatives.
EcoHub and CO₂ Connect Continue to Expand
IATA’s EcoHub and CO₂ Connect tools draw on primary operational data from more than 90 airlines, with the number continuing to grow. Kenya Airways was the latest carrier to join CO₂ Connect, enhancing the dataset’s global coverage, a positive development for many African operators seeking improved sustainability reporting capability.
The collaboration between EASA and IATA is expected to support global consistency, helping ensure airlines can meet regulatory expectations while providing passengers with clear, comparable emissions insights at the time of booking.
