African Airlines Get Boost as AASA Backs IATA’s CO₂ Connect Tool | By David Kwakwutse
The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) has entered into a landmark partnership with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to promote the IATA CO₂ Connect emissions calculator to its 16 member airlines and other carriers across Africa. The agreement makes AASA the first airline association globally to formally endorse and support IATA’s emissions-measurement platform.
The IATA CO₂ Connect tool provides airlines, travel agents, and corporate travel managers with access to trusted emissions data calculated using real operational inputs submitted directly by airlines—including aircraft-specific fuel burn information—processed under a globally standardised methodology.
AASA Chief Executive, Aaron Munetsi, said the tool delivers the accuracy and credibility the industry requires, especially in markets where carbon pricing adds financial pressure. “IATA CO₂ Connect addresses airlines’ and their customers’ need to accurately measure CO₂ emissions. By using verified operational data calculated through an internationally recognised methodology, it removes the potential for inaccurate reporting. This has bottom-line implications in markets such as South Africa, where a carbon tax is applied to domestic aviation,” he noted.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding, IATA will provide AASA and its member airlines with technical and operational support to accelerate the adoption of the CO₂ Connect platform.
Kamil Al Awadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, emphasised the growing demand for credible environmental information among travellers and companies. “Travellers want to understand how their flight choices affect the environment and want assurance that their decisions are based on trusted data. This is also vital for corporations that must track emissions and comply with regulations,” he said.
He added that AASA’s backing would help onboard more African airlines and expand the availability of reliable emissions data at the point of booking.
More than 150 airlines worldwide are already contributing operational data to the CO₂ Connect program, with over 90 providing detailed fuel burn information. Kenya Airways became the latest African airline to join earlier this month.
Major global travel platforms—including AMEX GBT and Amadeus—are integrating CO₂ Connect into their booking systems to give customers real-time emissions visibility, supporting sustainability goals and mandatory reporting requirements.
The tool is fully compliant with the ISO 14083 standard, aligning it with internationally accepted methods for tracking greenhouse gas emissions across the transport sector. It now includes functionality to account for emissions reductions generated from the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a major driver of the industry’s net-zero strategy.
Munetsi added that this positions African airlines for future readiness: “African carriers that adopt CO₂ Connect will be able to account for reduced emissions as SAF becomes more available and affordable across the continent and globally.”
African Airlines Get Boost as AASA Backs IATA’s CO₂ Connect Tool | By David Kwakwutse
