Flight Emissions Label

The ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 creates a voluntary labelling scheme for flights based on a common, standardised and publicly accessible methodology to calculate flight emissions. The label will allow passengers to make informed choices when comparing flight options.

Figure 1: Drawing on the Flight Emission Label

A first draft version of the new regulation was released last 15 September 2024, right after and during four weeks it received feedback from different type of responders as indicated in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Feedback responders of Flight Emission Labels regulation draft by category

A final version of the regulation was published last 18 December 2024. The main changes introduced where the following:

Definitions and Terminology

  • The term “Flight Emissions Label” is now explicitly used to represent the methodology for estimating flight emissions.
  • The definition of ‘freight’ has been refined to exclude passenger luggage

    Application Process

    • The Agency’s engagement with aircraft operators after receiving applications has been clarified. The new draft states that “the Agency shall engage with the aircraft operator” instead of “the Agency may engage”2

    Reporting Requirements

    • For scheduled flights that are new or have significantly different operating conditions, the reporting of estimated data (block aviation fuel, passenger numbers, freight amount) is now voluntary rather than mandatory
    • The reporting of flight operation details has been slightly modified. The day of operation is no longer required, only the month and year

    Aviation Fuel Reporting

    • The requirement to report aviation fuel data has been narrowed. Now, detailed reporting is mandatory only for batches “for which benefits have been claimed,” while reporting for all other batches is voluntary2

    Estimation Methodology

    • The methodology for estimating flight emissions has been clarified to specify that it applies to “each flight or set of flights operated by an aircraft operator under the same conditions”2

    Display of Labels

    • The time frame for displaying labels has been extended. Aircraft operators now have 15 days (instead of 5) to display labels at their own points of sale, and 30 days for points of sale with which they have a contractual relationship

    Monitoring and Compliance

    • The Agency’s review process now explicitly includes checking the timely display of labels2
    • The Agency must now give aircraft operators an opportunity to be heard before making decisions about revoking labels or granting exemptions for delays

      Website Requirements

      • The public part of the flight emissions website now must provide information about the reduction of aviation fuel lifecycle emissions resulting from the purchase of lower-emission fuels
      • The comparison of labels on the same route will now be against a benchmark developed by the Agency, rather than against other operators directly

        Scope and Implementation

        • The regulation’s application to freight aircraft operators remains set for January 1, 2028, unchanged from the previous draft1

        This initiative will establish the criteria and indicators for the common methodology. The Flight Emissions Label (FEL) will be implemented in 2025, with the following key dates:

        • 1 February 2025: Airlines operating flights within or departing from the EU can opt in to participate in the FEL program by submitting the required data to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
        • 1 July 2025: EASA will issue the first flight labels, which will apply to flights scheduled during the 2025 winter season.

        By the beginning of summer 2025, passengers will be able to view and compare the estimated greenhouse gas emissions of their flights when searching for or booking tickets online. The FEL will provide this information expressed in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kg CO2eq), enabling travelers to make more informed purchasing decisions