The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is to trial a CO2 emissions calculation tool specifically developed for cargo flights together with Etihad Airways.

To effectively manage and report on sustainability progress, the entire value chain – shippers, forwarders, investors and regulators – along with consumers are asking for reliable and trustworthy data calculations.

The trial will provide a valuable proof of concept for the cargo component of the IATA CO2 Connect carbon calculator.

IATA has been successfully providing IATA CO2 Connect for passenger flights since June this year, with actual fuel burn data of 57 aircraft types representing around 98 per cent of the active global passenger fleet. By using airline specific data on fuel burn and load factors, it is the most accurate in the market.

Challenging parameters

Calculating the carbon impact of cargo shipments has more challenging parameters, not least of which is the unpredictability of routing at time of booking an air cargo shipment that can often include non-air segments.

In addition, cargo can be carried on both dedicated freighter aircraft and in the bellies of passenger aircraft.

To achieve equal levels of accuracy to the passenger calculator, it is essential to collect actual data on fuel burn, load factors and other key variables in trials.

IATA will be working with Etihad Cargo to track the necessary data for cargo shipments during a three-month trial. Etihad will be sharing data from flights and advising on various use cases to achieve the highest levels of accuracy, consistency and transparency.

By mid-2023 IATA aims to launch CO2 Connect for Cargo providing the industry with precise and consistent methodologies for both passenger and cargo operations.
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