by Elsie Clark | Nov 10, 2025 | Sustainability
21 airlines will change their environmental claims after the EU found them to be misleading or exaggerated.
An investigation by the EU Commission and the Network of Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Authorities decided that airlines’ descriptions of carbon offsets and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) gave passengers a false impression that flying was sustainable. Flight emissions ‘calculators’ and vague net-zero emissions targets were also raised as greenwashing practices.
Lufthansa, KLM, and Ryanair are among the airlines who will now revise their claims after reaching an agreement with the EU. The bloc warned that if they did not fall in line with the investigation, sanctions could follow. The 21 airlines must now use the term ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ with appropriate clarifications, and be much clearer with their carbon offsetting claims.
Agustín Reyna, Director General of BEUC, said:
It is excellent news airlines have agreed to stop luring consumers with green promises following our complaint to the European Commission. It was high time airlines stopped painting flying as a sustainable option. Paying ‘green fares’ to plant trees can never guarantee to suck aircraft emissions out of the air.
The EU’s recommendations made clear that sustainability claims and ‘green’ terminology can only be used if backed up by comprehensive targets, strategies, and timelines. Announced on the eve of COP30, the agreement sends a strong message to all airlines, and highlights how much more needs to be done for aviation to make realistic steps towards decarbonisation and overall sustainability.
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by Elsie Clark | Nov 3, 2025 | Connectivity
Air traffic controllers at Berlin Brandenburg Airport were forced to suspend flights for two hours after a drone was discovered breaching its aerospace.
The incident occurred on Friday 31st October at around 8pm, with incoming aircraft forced to divert to other airports in Germany.
Ralph Beisel, managing director of the German Airports Association (Flughafenverband ADV), described the incident as a ‘wake-up call.’ He added:
When take-offs and landings are stopped and numerous aircraft have to be diverted to other airports, it is not only flight operations that come to a standstill, passenger confidence in the safety of air traffic also suffers.
Airports must not be left alone here. Drone detection and defence are sovereign tasks of the state and must be tackled comprehensively and consistently.
Drone overflights are on the up, with German traffic control reporting 155 incidents this year so far, a sharp increase from the 15 recorded in 2023. It is currently unclear if the latest drone intrusion was part of surveillance activities, as is suspected with recent drone overflights at Kleine-Brogel military base in Belgium.
Unnmanned aerial objects have caused further disturbance elsewhere in Europe. Vilnius Airport in Lithuania has been forced to close six times in October, for multiple hours on each occasion, due to helium balloons from Belarus entering its airspace. The balloons smuggle contraband into the EU, a criminal activity that also serves to put geopolitical pressure on the bloc.
Additionally, Russian drones have all invaded Lithuanian, Polish, and Estonian airspace in the past year as Putin tries to provoke NATO. To strengthen defence capabilities and keep airports running as normal, Europe must find a way to limit these incursions.
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by Elsie Clark | Oct 28, 2025 | Sustainability
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) says that the industry is on track to achieve its target of 6% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030.
The ReFuelEU Aviation Annual Technical Report found that 0.6% of Europe’s supplied aviation fuel for 2024 was SAF. This percentage needs to increase rapidly, but nevertheless saved 714 kilotonnes of carbon emissions, the equivalent of around 10,000 flights between Madrid and Paris.
Overall, EASA believes the EU is on track to achieve its 6% blending target in the next five years. Whether the bloc hits its interim target of 2% SAF in 2025 will be assessed at the close of this calendar year.
China is Europe’s biggest supplier of biofuel
EASA’s findings also highlight the ongoing cost obstacles to SAF adoption. Currently, the average price of SAF sits at €2,085/tonne, compared to €734/tonne for conventional jet fuel. Until the cost becomes more competitive, it is difficult to see how SAF use can scale successfully. Earlier this year, Airlines for Europe (A4E) criticised the EU for imposing SAF mandates without taking action to create a viable SAF market. Nevertheless, EASA’s report affirms progress on the 6% target.
Europe’s biggest producer of SAF is currently Finland, responsible for 10% of supply. However, 69% of feedstock originates outside of the EU, with China the biggest supplier.
Maria Rueda, EASA’s safety management, sustainability and global outreach director, said:
This first annual technical report marks an important milestone and makes clear that the EU has taken important first steps.
A functioning reporting system is now in place, initial reporting compliance levels are solid, and SAF delivery is happening across multiple member states. This report sets an important benchmark for our sustainability efforts in the future.
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