The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced enhancements to its CO2 Connect emissions calculator to consider carbon emissions reductions linked to the usage of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

This upgrade follows the recent release of the IATA SAF Accounting & Reporting Methodology, which outlines specific rules for including SAF in per-passenger CO2 metrics.

Initially, CO2 Connect will apply consistent per-passenger emission reductions across an airline’s entirety, ensuring equal (percentage) reductions based on total SAF purchases. Future updates will allow per-passenger SAF emission reductions to be allocated to specific routes.

Frederic Leger, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Commercial Products and Services, stated: “Corporations and individual travelers seek to understand how sustainable their flying is, especially if they have invested in SAF. This enhancement provides the transparency and accuracy that both individuals and businesses demand.”

More Participants Join the Program

IATA CO2 Connect utilizes real operational data provided by airlines, like specific fuel consumption by aircraft type. This method significantly contrasts with calculators relying mostly on modeled averages. Recently, airlines such as Air India, Air Astana, Air Europa, Amelia, Clic Air, Corsair, Hi Fly, Oman Air, Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas, and Royal Air Maroc joined the program, bringing the total to about 60 airlines contributing data to CO2 Connect.

With each new participant, the accuracy and transparency of IATA CO2 Connect’s calculations significantly enhance both for travelers and corporations.

Leger emphasized: “With the robust support from our participating airlines and the new capability to accurately account for SAF in the calculation, IATA CO2 Connect is gaining momentum. It is a powerful tool aiding aviation’s transition toward decarbonization, backed by global standards and high-quality data.”