CO2 Emissions
Airplane engines burn fuel, releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Some flights, however, emit lower emissions than others. To help you make an informed choice, we show the life-cycle emissions of your flight as a CO2e number—CO2 equivalent—which reflects not just in-flight fuel burn, but also emissions from fuel production and transportation. We highlight flights with at least 6% lower emissions than a typical flight on the same route, based on a median of all flights and dates. If no such flights appear, there may be none available for your selected day. While direct flights are usually best for emissions, some indirect flights on efficient aircraft may also be lower than typical. We don't currently compare flights to other transportation types, like trains, which will offer even lower-emission options for your chosen route.
How are emissions calculated?
Skyscanner's emissions information is powered by the most recent version of the Travel Impact Model (TIM), using data supplied by one or more of the Travalyst Coalition Partners. Travalyst is a nonprofit organization trying to build a more sustainable future for travel, making it easier to compare sustainability credentials within the travel industry. The TIM was created to do this for air travel, and its goal is to standardize information about carbon emissions for flights and make them more transparent. We know that emissions can be confusing, and it doesn't help when you see different data sources across your favorite travel sites. That's why all of Travalyst's partners, representing many of the world's biggest online travel platforms, have committed to onboarding to the TIM—so you will start to see the same emissions information no matter where you choose to search. Visit Travalyst to learn more about its work.
Sustainability content hub
Find out more about how Skyscanner and the travel industry are progressing toward a more sustainable future.
Traveling by train
Trains produce fewer emissions than flights for a journey of the same distance because they burn less fuel per passenger. Some trains are powered by renewable electricity, reducing emissions even further. At Skyscanner, we know sustainability is front of mind for many, and our platform is designed to help you find the right travel option based on a number of criteria such as price, time, convenience, and lower emissions. That's why we currently offer selected rail options in our search results in a number of countries.
How we travel
We take our own travel seriously, too. We're a global company—with offices across Europe, North America, and Asia. We understand the importance of good communication, which is why we equip our staff with all the tools they need to work well together remotely. We encourage staff to use videoconferencing whenever possible, but sometimes face-to-face meetings are essential. That's why we've partnered with SkyNRG to purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel through the Board Now program as part of our carbon reduction journey.
Our Climate Action Plan
We're committed to doing all that we can as a global business to reduce our own carbon footprint. We were a founding signatory of the Glasgow Declaration for Climate Action in Tourism at COP26, through which we report annually on our progress to Net Zero. You can explore our latest Climate Action Plan Update here
