The pledge from 21 carriers will oblige them to clarify that the emissions of a specific flight cannot be "neutralised, offset, or directly reduced" by contributing to climate protection projects or alternative fuels -- claims the EU says amount to greenwashing.
"To avoid misleading consumers, airlines must refrain from using vague environmental language and ensure that any claims about future environmental performance are substantiated," the commission said in a statement.
The announcement made in the run-up to next week's COP30 UN climate summit in Brazil stems from a consultation between airlines, the EU executive and consumer protection groups.
Airlines also pledged to present carbon emission calculations in a clear and transparent manner and provide robust scientific evidence when claiming environmental improvements.
The carriers concerned are Air Baltic, Air Dolomiti, Air France, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, EasyJet, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, Luxair, Norwegian, Ryanair, SAS, SWISS, TAP, Transavia France, Transavia CV, Volotea, Vueling and Wizz Air.
The commitments follow a formal complaint lodged with the European Commission in June 2023 by consumer groups, which accused the aviation sector of misleading advertising practices.
The industry has begun to shift its messaging after a series of legal setbacks.
In March 2024, a Dutch court ruled against KLM in a greenwashing case, saying the airline misled consumers with vague claims about the sustainability of its flights.
A year later, a German court barred Lufthansa from advertising carbon offsetting in a way deemed deceptive.
Air France no longer offers carbon offsets for flights. Instead, it suggests passengers contribute to the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
"There is room to change" in the way airlines communicate, said Diane Vitry, who heads up the aviation section of the NGO Transport & Environment.
She said the ideal would be for flight ads to mention their climate impact, similar to the health warnings included on tobacco and alcohol labels.
Aviation accounts for around three percent of global carbon emissions, but its overall contribution to climate change is higher because of the release of other greenhouse gases and condensation trails at high altitudes.
At COP30, nations target the jet set with luxury flight tax
Paris (AFP) Nov 7, 2025 -
France, Spain and Kenya are among a group of countries spearheading a drive at the COP30 climate summit for a new tax on luxury air travel, a source close to the matter told AFP.
Rooted in the idea that a small elite of premium flyers should pay more for their outsized contribution to global warming, the proposal will likely pit them against the powerful aviation industry.
Diplomats from the coalition of more than 10 countries are pushing for more to come aboard.
"We want to expand the coalition and, in particular, bring in more European states," the source said.
Business and first-class seats carry roughly triple the planet-warming emissions footprint of an economy ticket, while private jets emit up to 14 times more per passenger-kilometre compared to commercial flights.
Countries that do not yet have such a tax would commit to imposing levies on business and first-class tickets as well as private jets.
Those that already do -- such as France -- are pledging greater ambition, with steeper and more progressive rates. In practice, that could mean a dedicated surcharge on first-class travel.
For private jets, the tax could be tied to kerosene consumption, though other mechanisms are under discussion.
The initiative is led by the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, a group launched in 2023 and co-chaired by Barbados, Kenya and France.
They have chosen COP30, held in Brazil's Belem and billed as a moment for nations to move from climate pledges to action, as the runway to launch their proposal.
- 'It's only fair' -
"We need innovative and fair financing," French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday at a leaders' summit ahead of COP30, which officially kicks off Monday.
"With Kenya, Spain, Somalia, Benin, Sierra Leone, and Antigua and Barbuda, we have made significant progress toward a greater contribution from the aviation sector to adaptation," he said. This group of countries also includes Djibouti and South Sudan.
"It's only fair that those who have the most, and therefore pollute the most, pay their fair share," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Friday.
The move is likely to face headwinds from airlines, including Air France, which in March unveiled a new version of its "La Premiere" cabin -- the first update since 2014.
Designed for long-haul Boeing 777s, the "suites" will feature five windows, an armchair and a chaise longue that converts into a bed.
Proponents of the tax believe that demand for ultra-luxury travel is only weakly affected by price, and that the ultra-wealthy will keep flying even if tickets become slightly more expensive.
"Properly designed aviation taxes can raise predictable revenue for climate and development finance, while reinforcing fairness and solidarity," argues the coalition of countries, in a new document explaining the rationale.
Supporters cite the Maldives as an example. The tourism-dependent island nation charges steep departure taxes: $120 for business class, $240 for first class and $480 for private jets.
"There's no reason why other countries can't do the same," the source told AFP.
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