EU and IATA Join Forces to Make Air Travel Greener – A Boost for Sustainable Tourism in Europe

Published on November 23, 2025

In a landmark move that promises to reshape the future of travel, the European Union (EU) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have announced a new collaboration aimed at boosting sustainability in the aviation sector. This partnership will make it easier for travelers to access clear and reliable CO2 emissions data when booking flights, providing them with the tools to make environmentally conscious travel decisions. For European tourism, this could be a game-changer, offering tourists a new way to align their travel plans with their environmental values.

This collaboration builds upon the EU’s recently introduced Flight Emissions Label, a regulation launched in 2024 that requires airlines to display CO2 emissions data for each flight. By teaming up with IATA, the world’s leading airline association, the European Union is taking the next step in making sustainable travel choices more accessible to the public. The initiative is designed to reduce the carbon footprint of air travel while ensuring that travelers are fully informed about the environmental impact of their flights.

How the Partnership Will Work for Tourists

The new partnership focuses on streamlining the process by which airlines share emissions data with passengers. Through IATA’s EcoHub, airlines will be able to easily report their sustainability data, including CO2 emissions, making it readily available to travelers at the time of booking. This transparency is crucial for tourists who are increasingly looking for ways to minimize their impact on the environment while traveling.

The Flight Emissions Label will provide clear, easy-to-understand emissions data for every flight, allowing tourists to make more sustainable choices. The label will give passengers an immediate sense of how much carbon their flight will produce, helping them weigh their options when booking a flight. This could significantly influence travel choices, especially in an era where sustainability is becoming a priority for many.

A Step Toward Greener Tourism

For Europe’s tourism industry, the introduction of this initiative marks an important shift. Sustainable tourism has been gaining momentum, and this new collaboration will provide tourists with more options to make eco-friendly choices without compromising convenience. The availability of emissions data could encourage more travelers to choose flights with lower carbon footprints, which could ultimately drive airlines to adopt greener practices. This is crucial in a time when the tourism industry is under increasing pressure to become more environmentally responsible.

Moreover, as environmental concerns continue to rise among travelers, the transparency provided by the Flight Emissions Label will allow them to feel more confident in their travel decisions. With this information at their fingertips, tourists will be empowered to select flights that match their sustainability goals, contributing to a collective effort to reduce the carbon impact of the aviation industry.

Simplifying the Process for Airlines and Travelers

The partnership between EASA and IATA also promises to make it easier for airlines to participate in the Flight Emissions Label program. IATA’s existing systems, such as EcoHub and the CO2 Connect calculator, are already well-established tools for collecting and reporting airline sustainability data. By integrating these systems with the EU’s new label, the process for airlines will be streamlined, reducing administrative burdens and promoting wider participation.

Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of EASA, emphasized that the collaboration with IATA would help more airlines join the program, which would ultimately provide tourists with a broader range of sustainable flight options. The more airlines that participate, the more comprehensive and accurate the emissions data will be, benefiting passengers across Europe.

The Future of Sustainable Tourism in Europe

The EU and IATA’s partnership is a significant step toward making sustainable tourism a more feasible option for travelers. By offering transparent, accessible CO2 emissions data, the initiative will make it easier for tourists to align their values with their travel choices. The Flight Emissions Label, along with IATA’s data management tools, will enable travelers to make more informed decisions, knowing that their choices contribute to a greener future for European aviation.

For European tourism, this development could prove to be a major turning point. Tourists are becoming more eco-conscious, and the introduction of tools that support sustainable decision-making will be welcomed. In the long term, this collaboration could set a new standard for transparency in the airline industry, pushing other regions and industries to adopt similar practices.

Looking Ahead: Empowering Travelers and Reducing Carbon Footprints

Looking to the future, the partnership between the EU and IATA is expected to have a lasting impact on how tourists view air travel. With more airlines adopting the Flight Emissions Label and more travelers choosing flights based on environmental considerations, European tourism could see a rise in sustainable travel practices. This partnership is not just a win for the environment—it’s a win for travelers who want to make more responsible choices while exploring the world.

As the demand for sustainability grows, initiatives like this one will play a crucial role in shaping the future of tourism. For European tourists, the ability to easily compare the environmental impact of their flights could lead to smarter, more eco-friendly travel decisions that help preserve the planet for future generations.