EasyJet Shifts Strategy: From Carbon Offsetting to Cutting Emissions
Exploring EasyJet’s decisive move away from carbon offsetting toward deeper, lasting emission reductions in aviation.
EasyJet, one of Europe’s leading budget airlines, has fundamentally altered its approach to climate action. Once celebrated for offsetting all flight emissions, EasyJet is now dismantling its carbon offsetting program to prioritize deep, direct cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. The airline’s shift is emblematic of a broader industry reckoning with the limits of offsets—and a sign of coming changes in global aviation.
Why EasyJet Ended Carbon Offsetting
In late 2019, EasyJet announced it would offset all carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from its flights, purchasing offsets from projects such as forest conservation in Ethiopia and Peru and investments in renewable energy. The company offset approximately 8.7 million tonnes of CO₂ over several years. However, in 2023, EasyJet declared that this program would end, shifting resources to reducing emissions directly within its own operations. Flights booked from January 2023 onward would no longer be automatically offset by the airline, though customers will have the option to purchase offsets voluntarily.
- Why move away from offsets? EasyJet’s leadership cited the need for airlines to “deal with their own operations,” rather than relying excessively on external offsetting mechanisms. CEO Johan Lundgren emphasized that investment should target genuine emission reductions, such as fleet modernization and new fuels, rather than “out-of-sector initiatives.”
- Offsetting’s credibility gap: EasyJet is not alone; skepticism about the reliability and permanence of carbon offsets has grown, especially as investigations have questioned the real-world impact of many projects. Environmentalists have argued that offsetting risks distracting from the systemic transformation required across aviation.
EasyJet’s Ambitious Net-Zero Roadmap
With offsetting phased out, EasyJet has mapped a path to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This new strategy, which targets emission sources within the airline’s direct control, is built on multiple pillars:
- Fleet Modernization: Upgrading to the latest Airbus A320neo aircraft, which are up to 15% more fuel-efficient than earlier models. EasyJet has ordered 168 of these planes to accelerate its transition.
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): Increasing use of SAF, which can reduce lifecycle emissions of flights substantially. SAFs are made from renewable resources and are critical for decarbonizing aviation in the short-to-medium term.
- Operational Efficiencies: Improving the efficiency of flight operations from better flight descent profiles, direct flight paths, and optimized ground handling to save fuel and cut emissions immediately.
- Zero-Emission Technologies: Investing heavily in research and partnership with companies like Rolls-Royce and Airbus to develop hydrogen-powered aircraft and other breakthrough aviation technologies.
- Carbon Removal: For unavoidable or “residual” emissions, EasyJet plans on using carbon removal technologies such as direct air capture and geological storage.
Each of these components forms a comprehensive plan, with immediate steps focusing on proven solutions, and long-term goals investing in transformative technologies yet to reach commercial scale.
The Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and Verified Targets
EasyJet’s roadmap aligns with SBTi (Science-Based Targets initiative) standards, which require companies to pursue genuine reductions in their documented, direct emissions. SBTi guidance only permits offsetting for a small percentage of unavoidable emissions—in other words, the vast majority of reductions must be achieved by changing the company’s core business practices.
- EasyJet is the first airline to have SBTi validate its interim target: reducing emissions by 35% per revenue kilometer by 2035.
- By 2050, EasyJet aims for a 78% per kilometer reduction in emissions, offsetting the remainder with carbon-capture or similar removals.
These targets reflect a more rigorous and transparent approach compared to relative or ill-defined commitments from some competitors. It’s a notable contrast to earlier ambitions, which were sometimes vague about the share of real versus offset-reliant cuts.
Building Blocks of Emission Reductions
1. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
SAF is produced from biomass, waste oils, or other renewable resources and can yield a greenhouse gas reduction of up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel over its lifecycle. However, global supplies remain limited and plugging the gap between innovation and large-scale deployment is a critical industry challenge.
What others are reading
- EasyJet is redirecting much of its previous offsetting investment toward sourcing, supporting, and using more SAF in its fleet.
- The expanded use of SAF is expected to deliver a significant share of near-term cuts, but scaling up production requires policy support and investment.
2. Next-Generation Fleet: Airbus A320neo
Fleet renewal is one of aviation’s most reliable ways to cut emissions rapidly. Airbus A320neo aircraft blend advanced engines, lighter materials, and improved aerodynamics to burn less fuel. Each plane can deliver roughly a 15-20% cut in CO₂ per seat compared to older models.
3. Zero-Emission Technologies: Hydrogen and Hybrid Aircraft
Looking past incremental improvements, EasyJet is investing alongside Rolls-Royce and Airbus in the development of hydrogen-powered propulsion. Hydrogen offers the possibility of truly zero direct emissions in flight, producing only water vapor. Yet, challenges like storage, range, infrastructure, and green hydrogen supply must be resolved for large-scale commercial use—likely not before the mid-2030s at the earliest.
4. Carbon Removal
Even under the most ambitious scenarios, some emission sources—especially non-CO₂ effects like contrails—cannot be eliminated through efficiency or fuels alone. EasyJet plans to cover these residuals with carbon removal methods such as Direct Air Capture (DAC) with secure long-term storage underground.
5. Operational Improvements
- More Direct Air Routes: Redesigning European airspace for direct, rather than circuitous, flight paths could lower total emissions by reducing flying distances—though this requires political coordination and may take a decade to fully implement.
- Flight Descent Optimization: Improved descent profiles can trim both fuel use and noise pollution.
Why Carbon Offsetting Fell Out of Favor
Offsetting programs promised airlines—and passengers—a way to compensate for flight emissions by paying for projects that reduce or remove equivalent amounts of CO₂ elsewhere. “Carbon neutral” flights were marketed as a painless environmental solution, with airlines purchasing credits linked to forest preservation, reforestation, or renewable energy generation. Yet, scrutiny has found major flaws:
- Questionable Projects: Some offset projects have been criticized for lacking “additionality” (would the result have happened anyway?) or permanence (how long do trees stay standing?). Both issues undermine the genuine benefit of purchased credits.
- Market Expansion vs. Real Reductions: Airlines grew their flights—even adding short routes easily served by rail—while, on paper, claiming progress from offsetting. Some analysts argue that offsetting allowed continued emission increases, particularly if growth outpaced offset purchases.
- Public Perception: Confidence in offsetting has eroded, with a growing consensus that emissions must be addressed at the source whenever possible.
EasyJet and the Race to Net Zero: Industry Comparisons
| Airline | Offsetting Strategy | Decarbonization Approach | Net Zero Target Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| EasyJet | Automatic offsetting ended; voluntary only | SAF, hydrogen R&D, fleet renewal, carbon capture | 2050 |
| JetBlue | Phasing out offsets for SAF | SAF, operational improvements | 2040 |
| Delta Air Lines | Significant offsets purchase | SAF, offsets, R&D | 2050 |
| British Airways | Offsets all domestic UK flights | Mix of SAF, offsets, and efficiency | 2050 |
Challenges and Opportunities
EasyJet’s ambition comes with both practical and policy barriers:
- Technological Uncertainties: Hydrogen and hybrid-electric aircraft remain under development — with commercialization timelines extending out to at least 2035 or beyond.
- SAF Supply: Scaling the SAF industry from niche supply to global standard will require robust government incentives and investment.
- Policy Alignment: European airspace reform, infrastructure for new fuels, and international cooperation are all needed to maximize emission cuts.
- Demand Growth: Despite sustainability efforts, the wider aviation industry expects dramatic growth—from 2 billion global passengers in 2022 to a projected 10 billion by 2050. If the total number of flights (and total distance flown) rise fast enough, per flight reductions could be offset by overall growth unless absolute caps or demand management are introduced.
How Does EasyJet’s New Plan Measure Up?
EasyJet’s climate strategy represents a shift away from the “easy” solution of offsets toward the much harder—but ultimately more impactful—process of cutting emissions at the source. This approach is closer to emerging scientific and regulatory consensus: only transparent, measured reductions in direct emissions are compatible with the Paris Agreement targets and a stable climate.
According to the latest Sustainability Rating for August 2025, EasyJet scores above industry average, reflecting recognition of its proactive stance among major carriers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why did EasyJet stop offsetting all its flights?
EasyJet concluded that offsets, while useful for some residual emissions, should not replace direct cuts in pollution. The airline now targets emission sources it can control, via new fuels, aircraft, and operations, as advised by the Science-Based Targets initiative.
What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and how does it help?
SAF uses renewable raw materials such as waste oils or biomass to create jet fuel with a much smaller carbon footprint. Swapping conventional kerosene for SAF can reduce a flight’s emissions by up to 80%, depending on the feedstock and production method.
Will EasyJet’s new approach make flights carbon neutral?
Not instantly. The airline’s aim is continual improvement — reducing emissions significantly by 2035 and achieving net-zero by 2050, with the help of breakthrough technologies and carbon removals for any remaining emissions.
Can I still offset my flight emissions if I want to?
Yes. EasyJet now offers offsetting as a voluntary option that customers can select during booking, but the airline will no longer automatically offset all flights on behalf of passengers.
Are carbon offsets still credible tools?
Offsets can have climate benefits if designed well, but are often criticized for lack of transparency, double counting, poor enforcement, and the risk that some projects would have happened anyway. For robust climate action, most reductions must come from direct emission cuts.
Key Takeaways
- EasyJet has ended large-scale use of carbon offsets and now focuses on decarbonizing flight operations directly.
- SAF, new fuel-efficient aircraft, operational improvements, and research into zero-emission flight will drive emission reductions.
- EasyJet’s strategy is independently validated and aligned with science-based targets, leading the industry in transparency.
- The changes reflect a broader industry trend—and mounting pressure—for systemic solutions over short-term compensations.
References
- https://www.ecowatch.com/easyjet-net-zero-carbon-offsets.html
- https://reddmonitor.substack.com/p/easyjet-announces-it-will-stop-buying
- https://carboncredits.com/major-airlines-ditch-carbon-offsets-focus-to-saf/
- https://www.easyjet.com/en/netzero
- https://www.transportenvironment.org/articles/easyjets-carbon-offsets-are-not-solution-airlines-climate-problem
- https://questionzero.com/ratings/easyjet/
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62970-w
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