United Airlines’ carbon emissions have climbed to their highest level since 2019, reigniting concerns over long-term climate impact and underscoring the challenges in reaching its ambitious net-zero goals.
📈 Emissions Surge Resuming Growth
According to United’s latest environmental disclosures, the airline logged approximately 36.6 million metric tonnes of direct (Scope 1) greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, up from around 30.4 million tonnes in 2022—a rise of nearly 20% year-over-year . Total net emissions, including indirect sources, reached about 49.4 million tonnes CO2e, compared to 43.9 million in the prior year .
While emissions intensity per available seat-mile has improved—due to new aircraft and higher load factors—the absolute emissions still rose, in large part because airline operations expanded post-COVID .
🔍 Why More Emissions Are Expected
United itself has acknowledged that emissions will continue to rise in the short term, even as it pursues efficiency gains and fleet modernization. Growth in passenger travel and cargo demand is anticipated to outpace current reductions, pushing absolute emissions upward in the near term .
🛫 United’s Roadmap vs. Reality
United’s environmental strategy is anchored in a 2035 target to cut emissions intensity by 50% relative to a 2019 baseline, rising toward a full net-zero effort by 2050 . To meet these goals, it’s pursuing four main pathways:
- Introducing more fuel-efficient aircraft
- Operational efficiency and route optimization
- Scaling sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
- Collaboration with stakeholders and policymakers .
Still, SAF currently represents a minuscule share of United’s fuel use—under 0.1% of total consumption in 2023 .
🌱 Innovation & Investment: Leading the Way
United has invested over $200 million through its Sustainable Flight Fund, backing startups and technologies focused on SAF, carbon capture, and alternative propulsion . Notable partnerships include:
- Twelve, using renewable energy and CO₂ feedstock to create power-to-liquid fuels with up to 90% lifecycle emissions reduction .
- Heirloom, which leverages limestone-based carbon capture, and JetZero, developing ultra-efficient blended-wing aircraft
The airline also leads the Eco‑Skies Alliance, enabling corporate customers to purchase SAF credits and supporting demand for cleaner fuel