KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, commonly known as KLM, is a prominent player in the global aviation industry, headquartered in Amstelveen, Netherlands (NL). Founded in 1919, KLM is one of the oldest airlines in the world, with a rich history marked by significant milestones, including its merger with Air France in 2004, forming the Air France-KLM Group. Operating across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, KLM offers a comprehensive range of services, including passenger and cargo transport. The airline is renowned for its commitment to sustainability and innovation, exemplified by its efforts to reduce carbon emissions and enhance customer experience. With a strong market position, KLM consistently ranks among the top airlines for service quality and operational efficiency, making it a preferred choice for travellers worldwide.
How does Klm'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.
Klm's score of 30 is higher than 58% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2024, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines reported significant carbon emissions, with Scope 1 emissions from mobile combustion reaching approximately 3,273,000,000 kg CO2e and Scope 3 emissions from upstream transportation and distribution at about 2,637,000,000 kg CO2e. This follows a similar trend in 2023, where Scope 1 emissions were about 3,150,000,000 kg CO2e and Scope 3 emissions were approximately 2,538,000,000 kg CO2e. KLM has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050 across all scopes. Specifically, the airline has committed to a 30% reduction in well-to-wake Scope 1 and 3 jet fuel greenhouse gas emissions per revenue tonne kilometre by 2030, using 2019 as the baseline year. This target has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement. In summary, KLM is actively working towards reducing its carbon footprint through specific, science-based targets while maintaining transparency in its emissions reporting.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 12,066,900,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 33,060,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | - | - |
| Scope 3 | 4,463,100,000 | - | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 |
Klm's Scope 3 emissions, which increased by 4% last year and decreased by approximately 41% since 2019, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. A significant portion of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, with Scope 3 emissions accounting for 44% of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Upstream Transportation & Distribution" representing nearly all of their reported Scope 3 footprint.
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.
Klm has established climate goals through participation in recognized frameworks and target-setting initiatives. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.

Common questions about Klm's sustainability data and climate commitments