At Aireon, transforming how the world tracks aircraft also improves how aviation impacts the environment. Earth Day, a globally recognized event celebrated on April 22, is a great reminder of the importance of improving sustainability efforts across the aviation industry.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the aviation industry accounts for about 2.5% of global CO2 emissions – having larger growth margins between 2000 and 2019 than the rail, road, or shipping industries. Since 2022, this number has grown 0.5%, as air traffic has increased back to pre-COVID-19 levels.
Improvements in energy intensity have not offset the rising energy demand in recent years. As stated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) provides more than 44,000 flights each day, across more than 29 million square miles of airspace. EUROCONTROL, Europe’s air traffic network, reported over 30,000 flights per day in early April 2026, across more than 10 million kilometers of airspace.
The aviation industry, including industry associations, operators, airlines, air traffic control organizations, and others, collectively recognize their impact on the environment. Innovative technology – such as alternative fuels, better airspace management, fleet upgrades, and better operating procedures — is supporting the industry’s goal to net zero by 2050.
More specifically, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) globally are supporting the industry’s environmental goals, investing in programs, dashboards, and technologies to identify, monitor, and improve their environmental impacts. Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is only one tool in their environmental toolbox.
Aireon, with its ground-breaking space-based ADS-B data, is proud to support our customers’ environmental goals. ADS-B enables more efficient, data-driven aviation operations – allowing air navigation service providers (ANSP) to more efficiently route and more closely separate aircraft. The end result is better fuel efficiency, and a reduction in CO2 emissions. So far, more than 90 countries have deployed Aireon’s ADS-B technology and are already reaping significant environmental benefits.
A study conducted by NATS using Aireon’s space-based ADS-B found that in 2023, approximately 45,000 tonnes of CO2 were saved annually, compared to baseline levels in 2018. This reduction of CO2 emissions was achieved by enabling more efficient flight paths across UK-managed oceanic airspace, where Aireon’s real-time surveillance allows aircraft to fly closer together for optimal routes, altitudes, and speeds. These findings demonstrate how Aireon’s space-based ADS-B can meaningfully reduce excess emissions while advancing long-term environmental sustainability in aviation. Based on these environmental benefits, the study also highlighted that airlines operating in the UK-managed airspace were saving around £19 million annually in fuel burn.
Airlines, service providers, trade associations, and industry partners are increasingly prioritizing environmental impact as aviation’s contributions to global emissions continue to grow. To learn more about how Aireon is supporting a sustainable future, read our 2025 Report: ADS-B Drives Major Benefits for ANSPs.
