During the IATA World Sustainability Symposium (WSS) in Miami, the association announced its collaboration with two major industry players — British Airways and Microsoft — to further develop IATA CO2 Connect for Cargo, a tool for airfreight’s decarbonisation efforts.
The system uses primary data from more than 40 airlines and adheres to the IATA Recommended Practice 1678, which is an industry-endorsed methodology. This is what sets IATA CO2 Connect apart from many other carbon calculation tools, which often rely on theoretical models rather than real-world data. By using accurate operational data, IATA CO2 Connect provides a more reliable basis for freight forwarders, shippers, and airlines to manage and report their carbon footprints.
CO2 Connect for Cargo is set to be available by Q1 2025, and its integration into quote and book systems, freight forwarders, and airlines is expected to revolutionise how the air cargo industry calculates and reports emissions. The development of CO2 Connect for Cargo builds on the success of IATA CO2 Connect, which was launched in June 2022 for passenger flights. The tool will play a crucial role in supporting the industry’s broader decarbonisation efforts, providing the transparency and data necessary for airlines to make informed decisions about reducing their environmental impact.
British Airways has stepped up its sustainability efforts by agreeing to share flight-level fuel burn data for its 700 daily flights. “At British Airways, transparency and consistency are essential to our sustainability efforts. By sharing our flight-level fuel burn data with IATA CO2 Connect, we’re enhancing the accuracy of CO2 emissions calculations and ensuring access to reliable, clear information,” Carrie Harris, Director of Sustainability at British Airways, stated, “It’s crucial for the entire industry to align on these standards, and collaboration is key.”
Microsoft’s involvement in the development of IATA CO2 Connect for Cargo reflects the increasing role of tech companies in driving sustainability within the aviation industry. As part of its collaboration, Microsoft will provide technical expertise and serve as one of the first pilot testers of the CO2 Connect for Cargo service. “Using CO2 Connect for Cargo will help Microsoft work with airlines to reduce emissions, make informed upstream investments with our partners, and purchase SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) and SAF certificates,” Nico De Golia, Director of Sustainability for Microsoft Cloud Logistics, highlighted.
“Strong relationships, including those announced today with British Airways and Microsoft, will help make IATA CO2 Connect for Cargo a more powerful and more accurate tool. The world is watching as aviation progresses on the challenging journey of decarbonisation. Transparency and accuracy—enhanced by these partnerships—are critical,” Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Chief Economist, emphasised.
