Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited, commonly known as Virgin Atlantic, is a prominent British airline headquartered in Crawley, GB. Founded in 1984, the airline has established itself as a key player in the international aviation industry, primarily operating transatlantic flights between the UK and North America, as well as select routes to the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. Renowned for its innovative approach to air travel, Virgin Atlantic offers a range of services, including Economy, Premium, and Upper Class cabins, each designed to provide a unique flying experience. The airline is celebrated for its exceptional customer service and stylish onboard amenities, setting it apart from competitors. With a strong market position, Virgin Atlantic has achieved numerous accolades, solidifying its reputation as a leader in the premium travel sector.
How does Virgin Atlantic'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.
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.
Virgin Atlantic's score of 32 is higher than 90% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2024, Virgin Atlantic reported total carbon emissions of approximately 5,069,289,000 kg CO2e, with Scope 1 emissions accounting for about 3,812,024,000 kg CO2e, Scope 2 emissions at approximately 1,291,000 kg CO2e, and Scope 3 emissions reaching about 1,257,265,000 kg CO2e. This marked an increase from 2023, where total emissions were approximately 4,653,960,000 kg CO2e. Virgin Atlantic has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming for a 15% gross reduction in carbon emissions per revenue tonne kilometre (RTK) by 2026, achieved through fleet transformation and operational efficiency. Additionally, the airline targets a 15% net reduction in total CO2 emissions by 2030, which includes a commitment to use 10% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Looking further ahead, Virgin Atlantic aims for a 40% net reduction in total CO2 emissions by 2040. These initiatives reflect the airline's commitment to addressing its carbon footprint and contributing to global climate goals.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scope 1 | 4,879,219,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 |
Scope 2 | 8,547,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | - | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 |
Scope 3 | 1,017,147,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 |
Companies disclose and commit to reducing emissions to show they are serious about reducing emissions impact over time. They can also help a company track its progress over time.
Virgin Atlantic is not participating in any of the initiatives that we track. This may change over time as the company engages with new initiatives or updates its commitments. DitchCarbon will update this information as it becomes available.