Improving Environmental Performance

​Since the early days of jet aircraft, aviation has dramatically improved its environmental performance.

Since the 1960s, fuel efficiency has improved by some 70% per passenger km, today’s aircraft are 75% quieter than those manufactured 50 years ago, and levels of carbon monoxide have come down by 50% and unburned hydrocarbons and smoke by around 90%.

Voluntary initiatives to address environmental impact

IATA encourages the use of voluntary initiatives to address environmental impacts from aviation and promotes the use of industry best practices where possible. Voluntary initiatives can be tailored to the specific needs of governments, industry and other stakeholders. They can provide more flexibility and cost savings than regulatory measures.

In order to further reduce aviation’s impact on the environment, IATA has set up several programs to assist airlines in improving their environmental performance:

• Alternative Fuels
• Carbon Offset Program
• Environmental Assessment

IATA is also working on several initiatives on Cargo Sustainability.

In partnership with industry stakeholders and governments, IATA is focused on developing sensible environmental policies to enable and promote sustainable and eco-efficient air transport. IATA advocates that as a global industry, aviation requires global solutions. More on IATA’s environmental policies.