British Airways Sustainability Profile
British Airways, the flagship carrier of the United Kingdom, is headquartered in London, GB. Founded in 1974, it has grown to become one of the world's leading airlines, operating an extensive network across Europe, North America, Asia, and beyond. The airline is renowned for its premium services, including World Traveller and Club World classes, which offer a unique blend of comfort and luxury. As a key player in the aviation industry, British Airways focuses on passenger and cargo transport, consistently achieving high standards in customer service and operational efficiency. Notable milestones include its merger with Iberia in 2011, forming the International Airlines Group (IAG), which solidified its market position. With a commitment to sustainability and innovation, British Airways continues to enhance its offerings, making it a preferred choice for travellers worldwide.
DitchCarbon Score
How does British Airways's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Industry Average
Mean score of companies in the Air Transport industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Industry Benchmark
British Airways's score of 33 is higher than 61% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
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British Airways's reported carbon emissions
In 2023, British Airways reported carbon emissions of approximately 15,019,941,000 kg CO2e, all of which fall under Scope 1 emissions. This marks a significant increase from 2022, where emissions were about 11,886,669,000 kg CO2e, also solely from Scope 1. The airline has not disclosed any Scope 2 or Scope 3 emissions for these years. Over the past few years, British Airways has seen fluctuations in its emissions. In 2021, total emissions were about 5,978,784,000 kg CO2e for Scope 1, with additional Scope 2 emissions of approximately 6,908,000 kg CO2e (market-based) and 26,857,000 kg CO2e (location-based), alongside Scope 3 emissions of about 1,674,405,000 kg CO2e. The airline's emissions peaked in 2019 at around 19,091,720,000 kg CO2e. Despite these figures, British Airways has not set specific reduction targets or climate pledges as part of its sustainability initiatives. The emissions data is cascaded from its parent company, International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A., reflecting the broader corporate family's climate commitments. British Airways continues to focus on improving its carbon efficiency, with reported carbon emissions per passenger kilometre of about 0.0862 kg CO2e in 2023. The airline's commitment to sustainability remains a key focus, although specific reduction initiatives and targets have not been detailed in the available data.
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| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 17,286,593,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 65,308,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | - | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | - | - |
| Scope 3 | 5,225,577,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | - | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | - | - |
How Carbon Intensive is British Airways's Industry?
How Carbon Intensive is British Airways's Location?
British Airways's Climate Goals (2030 & 2050)
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
British Airways has not publicly committed to specific 2030 or 2050 climate goals through the major frameworks we track. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.
