According to a Greenpeace study, seven of the largest European airlines are not pursuing credible climate ambitions.
"With its staggering greenhouse gas emissions and its inaction on climate protection, the aviation industry is hiding behind empty promises and a curtain of greenwashing," said Herwig Schuster, spokesman for the environmental organization, on Wednesday.
The airline groups examined in the study are not taking nearly enough measures to reduce their CO2 emissions, they say.
According to Greenpeace, airlines would have to reduce their flights by at least two percent by 2040 in order to limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
However, the companies examined had neither set annual reduction targets for their greenhouse gas emissions nor committed themselves to reducing flights or to complete decarbonization by 2040.
In its report, Greenpeace scrutinized Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, the British Airways parent company IAG (International Airlines Group), Easyjet and Ryanair, among others.
Alternative fuel types are the future
"We take note of Greenpeace's statements and will deal intensively with the contents of the study and examine them," said a Lufthansa spokesman.
By 2030, its own net CO2 emissions should be halved compared to 2019, it said.
Easyjet said: "We are aware of the responsibility." Work is being done to make flying more climate-friendly faster.
According to Ryanair, the information is outdated.
You have an ambitious climate strategy.
In addition, not only airlines have to do their part, it said in a statement.
According to Greenpeace, in order to reduce emissions, almost all airlines rely on alternative aviation fuels, which are made from cooking oil and biofuels, for example.
However, these fuels also contain content that is associated with environmental destruction, deforestation, human rights violations and food shortages.
"Instead of relying on bogus technological solutions, flights must be massively reduced overall," emphasized Schuster.