Aviation is the only polluting sector escaping carbon pricing in Europe, with two-thirds of its CO2 emissions not covered by the ETS
Europe's aviation sector’s 2025 emissions highest ever
New analysis by T&E reveals that in 2025, emissions from flights departing from airports in Europe surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the first time. The sector emitted 195 Mt of CO₂ for flights departing Europe in 2025, a 2% increase compared to pre-COVID levels.
Low-cost carriers drove European emissions growth. Ryanair 's global emissions are now 50% higher than in 2019, the largest increase of any of the top 20 most polluting airlines worldwide. Ryanair remains the most polluting airline in Europe, emitting 16.6 Mt of CO₂ from flights departing Europe, roughly equivalent to the total annual CO₂ emissions of a country the size of Croatia. By contrast, legacy carriers with large long-haul networks have recovered more slowly: their emissions overall remain below their pre-pandemic levels, held back by the slower rebound of intercontinental traffic.
Aviation remains the EU’s fastest-growing source of emissions. Across the EU, entire sectors of the economy like agriculture, manufacturing, and most transport modes have cut their greenhouse gases (GHG). (....)