Flight Carbon Footprint Calculator
Enter airport codes to get CO2 equivalent emissions per passenger based on seat class, using DEFRA/ICAO methodology. Includes radiative forcing for non-CO2 high-altitude effects and offset cost estimate. Nothing uploaded.
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Learn more about flight emissions and carbon footprints
How much CO2 does a flight from London to New York produce?
A London (LHR) to New York (JFK) economy class flight produces approximately 340-400 kg CO2e per passenger including radiative forcing effects. Without the DEFRA non-CO2 multiplier, the CO2-only figure is around 180 kg. Business class produces roughly 3x the economy figure due to the larger cabin space allocated per passenger.
Why does business class have a much higher carbon footprint?
Carbon emissions per flight are divided by the number of passenger-seats. Business class seats take up 3-4x more floor space than economy seats, so each business class passenger is allocated a proportionally larger share of the total aircraft emissions. A typical business class seat produces approximately 3x the CO2 of an economy seat on the same flight.
What is radiative forcing in flight emissions?
Aircraft at cruising altitude produce warming effects beyond CO2 alone. Contrails, cirrus cloud formation, and NOx emissions at altitude all contribute additional warming. DEFRA applies a multiplier of 1.9x to the CO2-only figure to account for these radiative forcing effects, making the total climate impact roughly twice the raw CO2 number. The scientific consensus acknowledges significant uncertainty in this multiplier.
FAQ
How much CO2 does a flight from London to New York produce?
A London (LHR) to New York (JFK) economy class flight produces approximately 340-400 kg CO2e per passenger including radiative forcing effects. Without the DEFRA non-CO2 multiplier, the CO2-only figure is around 180 kg. Business class produces roughly 3x the economy figure due to the larger cabin space allocated per passenger.
Why does business class have a much higher carbon footprint?
Carbon emissions per flight are divided by the number of passenger-seats. Business class seats take up 3-4x more floor space than economy seats, so each business class passenger is allocated a proportionally larger share of the total aircraft emissions. A typical business class seat produces approximately 3x the CO2 of an economy seat on the same flight.
What is radiative forcing in flight emissions?
Aircraft at cruising altitude produce warming effects beyond CO2 alone. Contrails, cirrus cloud formation, and NOx emissions at altitude all contribute additional warming. DEFRA applies a multiplier of 1.9x to the CO2-only figure to account for these radiative forcing effects, making the total climate impact roughly twice the raw CO2 number. The scientific consensus acknowledges significant uncertainty in this multiplier.