Wizz Air, Europe’s fastest-growing and most environmentally sustainable airline*, is proud to announce that it has been named ‘Best Airline for Carbon Reduction” at the inaugural Carbon Awards 2024, hosted by World Finance. Wizz Air was celebrated for its exceptional contributions to reducing carbon emissions intensity and its efforts in developing more sustainable aviation practices.
The Carbon Awards will be awarded annually by World Finance, to recognise companies and organisations demonstrating measurable impact and innovative solutions in combating climate change. This year, the awards placed a strong emphasis on quantifiable sustainability achievements and forward-thinking strategies across multiple industries, with aviation being a critical focus area.
Wizz Air continues to play a leading role in the decarbonisation of the aviation industry, boasting the lowest CO2 emissions per seat of just 52 grams, which is the lowest in the industry**. The airline also has one of the youngest and most efficient fleets in the industry. Over 60% of its fleet of 225 aircraft are ultra-efficient Airbus A321neo, which are capable of reducing fuel consumption by 20% per flight.
This recognition comes as Wizz Air continues to make significant strides towards its ambitious target of reducing carbon emissions intensity by 25% by 2030. In addition to renewing its fleet, Wizz Air has an aspiration to power 10% of its flights with lower carbon fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030. It aims to achieve this through its investments in SAF production companies and establishment of offtake agreements with strategic partners. In preparation for the upcoming EU mandates requiring the use of SAF), the airline group recently announced two SAF routes, Budapest to Barcelona and Budapest to Brussels Charleroi. During this trial Wizz Air will gather insights from passengers regarding their awareness of sustainable aviation by conducting a special survey.
Yvonne Moynihan, Wizz Air Corporate & ESG Officer, said: "We are honoured to receive the inaugural Carbon Award 2024 for Best Airline for Carbon Reduction, in addition to the World Finance Award for Most Sustainable Low-Cost Airline, which we received in June. Our people are at the heart of our sustainability journey. We are incredibly proud of our dedicated team whose commitment drives our innovative efforts in reducing emissions and raising awareness among our passengers.
This recognition from World Finance underlines our relentless focus on decarbonising aviation through strategic investment and partnerships. A multidimensional approach is necessary from the industry, which is the fastest and safest mode of transport, but this needs to include advancements in technology and regulatory support to fast track a green transition while maintaining a competitive and fair playing field for all industry players.“
Monika Wojcik, Head of Special Projects in World Finance, added: “This year, we have witnessed remarkable technological advancements in the field of carbon emissions reduction, and we are proud to support these efforts by launching the Carbon Awards. By selecting Wizz Air as the best company for carbon reduction in the low-cost airline industry, the judges recognized its exceptional efforts to minimize carbon intensity.
We particularly commended Wizz Air’s innovative fuel-saving measures, such as single-engine taxiing after landing, the use of ground power units instead of auxiliary power units whenever possible, and the adoption of fully electric ground handling operations at select airports. These initiatives have contributed to reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 80–85% per aircraft compared to traditional diesel-powered equipment."
Earlier this year, the airline won the World Finance Most Sustainable Low-Cost Airline Award for the fourth consecutive year, further cementing its position as a global leader in sustainable aviation.
* According to CAPA-Envest Global Airline Sustainability Benchmarking and Rating report 2023.
** Competitors are airlines of comparable size, operating either partially or entirely within the same network as Wizz Air, (i.e. competitors). The comparison is based on the competitors’ latest publicly disclosed emissions intensity data relevant to a 12-month duration, ensuring accuracy and comparability in our analysis.
