BRUSSELS, Belgium – In a significant step towards greater transparency and sustainability in the aviation sector, Air France-KLM has become the first airline group to officially join the European Union’s innovative Flight Emissions Label (FEL) initiative. This pioneering move underscores the group’s commitment to decarbonization and empowers passengers with clearer, more reliable information about their flight’s environmental impact.
The EU Flight Emissions Label, launched in December 2024 and set to be fully operational by July 2025, aims to provide a harmonized and trustworthy methodology for calculating flight emissions. This will allow passengers to make more informed decisions when comparing and booking flights, combating “greenwashing” claims and fostering fair competition among airlines. The label takes into account various factors, including aircraft type, passenger numbers, freight volume, and the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
Air France-KLM’s early participation, formalized through a Memorandum of Cooperation with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), will see the airline group testing the FEL scheme and providing valuable insights to help refine and optimize its implementation. This proactive engagement will give Air France and KLM early access to the label’s results and methodologies, as well as its reporting and validation processes.
“Air France-KLM is committed to ensuring a true global level playing field,” stated Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM. “Our early and active participation is designed to help shape a fair, transparent, and effective framework for all airlines.”
The FEL initiative is a crucial component of the EU’s broader “ReFuelEU Aviation” strategy, which seeks to accelerate the uptake of sustainable aviation fuels and drive the industry towards net-zero emissions by 2050. By making emissions data readily available and comparable, the EU hopes to incentivize airlines to invest further in cleaner technologies, fleet renewal, and more efficient operations.
While participation in the FEL remains voluntary for airlines operating within or departing from the EU, the move by Air France-KLM sets a precedent for the industry, highlighting a growing commitment to environmental accountability and consumer empowerment. Passengers will soon be able to see the first labels displayed alongside flight details when booking online, marking a new era of transparency in air travel.
