Ryanair has been described as the ‘new coal’ after it was identified as one of Europe’s top 10 carbon emitters.
Emissions Trading Statistics analysed by Brussels-based research group Transport & Environment put Ryanair in a list previously exclusively occupied by coal plants.
It found Ryanair’s carbon dioxide emissions rose 6.9% last year while carbon emissions for airlines overall grew 4.9% within Europe.
In contrast, carbon emissions in other sectors in the EU fell 3.9%.
In the last five years, carbon pollution from flying in Europe has risen 26.3%, far outpacing any other kind of transport.
"When it comes to climate, Ryanair is the new coal," said Andrew Murphy, aviation manager at T&E.
"This trend will only continue until Europe realises that this undertaxed and under-regulated sector needs to be brought into line, starting with a tax on kerosene and the introduction of mandates that force airlines to switch to zero-emission jet fuel.
"Aviation is Europe’s biggest climate failure. The worst thing we can do in response is to put all our hopes in an offsetting scheme that gives airlines a license to grow indefinitely. But that is exactly what airlines have cooked up at the industry-dominated UN aviation agency. The time has come for a big change in Europe’s aviation policy."
A spokesman for Ryanair said: "Ryanair is Europe’s greenest and cleanest airline. Passengers travelling on Ryanair have the lowest CO2 emissions per km travelled than any other airline."
He also sent a link for further information.
The emissions report was published as Ryanair and its Austrian subsidiary Lauda reported a 9% rise in March traffic year on year and a 9% rise in annual rolling traffic to 142.1 million passengers.
