Lots of fuel and CO2 emissions

Globally, flights produced 915 million tons of CO2 in 2019 which is about 2.1% of humanity’s total CO2-emissions.

When it comes to CO2-emissions per passenger per distance, flying is second to none.

One transatlantic flight takes more than 400 kilo of fuel per passenger and emits about 4000 kilos of CO2 equivalents.

Aviation industry projections

The world's aircraft fleet is expected to double between 2018 and 2038 from 26,000 to 51,000 aircraft. The 38 million departures in 2018 is projected to increase to 90 million in 2040. Between 2013 and 2018, CO2-emissions from aviation grew 70% more than expected. By 2050, emissions from aviation could triple if current trends continue.

4,300,000,000 - Total number of passengers carried globally on scheduled flights in 2018.

By 2040, the number is expected to reach: 10,000,000,000

The aviation industry carried 58 million tons of air freight in 2018. 363 billion freight ton-kilometres in total.

A different kind of flight

Already in 1990, powered entirely by the sun, an aircraft flew 4060 km across the USA. But it is going to be a big challenge to change our reliance on traditional jet-fuel.

Go for the train instead. On short distances (such as London-Paris), trains emit 10 times less CO2 than planes.