The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has introduced a new regulatory framework requiring airlines and flight booking platforms to provide passengers with clear, consistent, and comparable carbon emissions data at the point of booking. Applicable to all flights departing from or arriving at UK airports, the guidance establishes preferred methodologies for calculating emissions and emphasizes the use of real, up-to-date operational data, including aircraft type, seat configuration, fuel use, and other relevant variables. By standardizing how carbon emissions information is presented, the framework aims to address long-standing inconsistencies in aviation climate reporting and align the sector with transparency practices already seen in rail and select comparison platforms.
Developed following a 2023 Call for Evidence and a 2024 public consultation, the framework signals a structured regulatory pathway toward greater climate accountability in aviation. Airlines and travel companies are expected to adopt the guidance by April 2027, after which the CAA will begin reviewing compliance across carriers, travel agents, and booking websites. Positioned as both a consumer transparency measure and a strategic decarbonization instrument, the initiative supports the industry’s net-zero trajectory while allowing methodological improvements as emissions accounting standards evolve.