The 5 Most Eco-Friendly Airlines In America

It's no secret that traveling by plane isn't great for the environment. Commercial aircraft produce a lot of pollution, and are a big contributor to global climate change. Airplanes run off of fossil fuels, which are non-renewable resources and produce greenhouse gasses. Carbon dioxide (CO2) accounts for about 70% of the exhaust and the rest is made up of other harmful emissions like nitrous gases, soot, and sulphate. The white lines that airplanes leave behind are called contrails, which further contribute to global warming by trapping heat in the earth's atmosphere.

Passengers have been traveling by plane for business and pleasure since the 1920's, and by the 1950's and 60's the world had entered into the "Golden Age of Flight". Back then, traveling by plane was extremely expensive, and was mostly reserved for wealthy people, who became known as the "Jet Set". 1955 marked the first time in history that more people traveled by plane than by train, and the demand has only continued to grow as airfare became more affordable for the general public. As demand increased, so did the environmental impact.

Over the past few decades, commercial airlines have worked to become more sustainable, but the efforts are offset by ever-increasing demand. Aviation makes up only about 2.5% of the global CO2 emissions. Still, it's a major portion of most travelers' individual carbon footprint and causes many environmentally-conscious people to feel morally conflicted about traveling by plane. Some people are even choosing not to travel due to climate change. In 2022 the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization made a commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, and many commercial airlines pledged to meet or exceed that goal. If you're looking to reduce your personal environmental impact, consider booking these five airlines who are implementing eco-friendly practices.

Frontier is an ultra-low cost carrier based out of Denver, Colorado. The airline operates flights throughout the United States and also flies to around ten international destinations including Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica. Frontier claims to be the "Greenest Airline in America" according to its website, and backs up the claim with plenty of statistics. It's the most fuel efficient airline in the country, with 43% fuel savings compared to other companies. The lower fuel usage is due to factors like seating configurations and weight saving initiatives. Frontier charges additional fees for carry-on bags and checked luggage encourages passengers to pack light. In 2023, the airline was able to save 160 million gallons of fuel, which is similar to removing 305,000 cars from the road, according to the website.

Sustainability is a major goal for Frontier Airlines, which operates the nation's youngest aircraft fleet. In addition to fuel saving initiatives, the Airline has also implemented more environmentally conscious in-flight procedures like switching from plastic to biodegradable cups for drinks served in the air. Each frontier aircraft is painted with a unique animal to raise awareness about endangered species. Blanco the Polar Bear, Ichabod the Whooping Crane, Axl the Axolotl are just a few of the critters featured on the airplanes.

In 2024, Frontier received recognition from the Centre for Aviation during the 2024 Environmental Sustainability Awards for Excellence and was named North American Environmental Sustainability Airline of the Year. "Not only do we operate the most fuel-efficient fleet in North America, but our continuous efforts to reduce our environmental footprint through aircraft weight reduction, operational efficiencies and smart network design all contribute toward our sustainability goals. All members of Team Frontier, who work together each and every day to fulfill our sustainability mission, can be proud of this award," said Barry Biffle, CEO, in a statement.

United, headquartered in Chicago, is one of the "Big 3" airlines which also include Delta and American. Founded in 1926, it remains one of the world's largest and most successful aviation companies. More than 164 million passengers flew on United in 2023. Fortunately, the company is taking sustainability seriously.

According the website "United is committed to redefining the future of air travel with environmental responsibility and sustainability at the forefront...We believe that it is our responsibility to take tangible steps to mitigate climate change impacts from our operations and we will continue to engage with partners across the aviation landscape, seeking new ways to reduce our environmental impact in the air, on the ground, and at our facilities to benefit our employees, customers, and stockholders."

United has pledged to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and is the first global airline to commit to doing so without the use of carbon offsets. Furthermore, the company has invested more than $200 million in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). SAF utilizes renewable resources and waste to create fuel for jets that emits 85% less carbon. United was the first airline to test SAF in 2009, as well as the first airline to use it for scheduled passenger flights in 2016. United is set to achieve their midterm coal of reducing emissions by 50% in 2035.The airline also plans to introduce electric aircraft into their fleet, and has invested millions in a new electric air-taxi called Eve's Evtol.

Many travelers consider Delta the best of the best when it comes to aviation, so it's no surprise that the "Big 3" airline is a leader when it comes to eco-friendly air travel. Delta hopes to achieve the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but acknowledges that it will be "innately difficult to decarbonize." The company is focused on improving the efficiency of their current fleet. According to the company's website they plan to "embed sustainability into everything we do," and "eliminate our climate impact from flying".

Like United, they are also implementing the use of sustainable aviation fuel in their commercial flights. The goal is to obtain 400 million gallons of SAF by 2030. According to Delta's website they've claimed 21 million gallons of fuel in 2023 compared to 2019 fuel usage. Delta is committed to converting their fleet to more fuel efficient aircraft by replacing existing planes with the newest fuel efficient models when they're ready to retire. The airline received 43 new aircraft in 2023. The Delta Sustainable Skies Lab is another great project that is focused on research and experimenting with innovative solutions to help reach the 2050 goals.

Along with research and innovation, Delta is making a big effort to cut down on other practices that aren't sustainable. More recyclable and biodegradable alternatives are being offered to passengers in flight, as an alternative to single use plastic items. Paper cups were introduced in 2023 in the hopes of saving around 7 million pounds of single use plastic that is used each and every year in flight. These inflight options make it easy for travelers to have a more eco-friendly vacation. 

Alaska Airlines is one of the best aviation companies in almost every area. Multiple travel websites have ranked it amongst the best airlines in the country. In 2024, it was ranked the top airline in the United States according to customer reviews. Alaska Airlines is the self proclaimed "last great airline," and competes with aviation giants like Delta when it comes to customer satisfaction.

"Our company's purpose is creating an airline people love, and our values are to our own safety, do the right thing, be kind-hearted, deliver performance, and be remarkable," said CEO Ben Minicucci. In addition to keeping customers happy, Alaska Airline is an industry leader in sustainability. The company is on track to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, placing them a decade ahead of most other airlines working towards sustainability.

"We take a holistic approach to sustainability, reducing our climate impact by being the most fuel efficient US airline and pursuing a long term path to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, as well as reducing waste and supporting healthy ecosystems in the places we live and fly. Echoing our origins navigating the evergreen wilderness of Alaska, we call this our EverGreen journey—built on the foundation of our longstanding commitment to care for the planet for the long haul," the website states.

Like Alaska Airlines, JetBlue aims to beat the United Nations' goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by a decade. The low-cost airline has received multiple awards for their efforts in becoming more environmentally friendly. It was named the Most Sustainable Company in the Major Airline Industry in 2022 during the World Finance Sustainability Awards. In 2022 JetBlue was ranked third on the list of 10 Most Innovative Companies in Transportation by Fast Company.

"A healthy environment is more than a nice goal—it's crucial for our business and the beautiful destinations you visit. Our goal is to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040, and we are setting clear targets along the way," JetBlue's website states. The airline is also investing in the most sustainable aircraft available. Starting in 2022 the airline began acquiring new A220 aircraft with engines that improve carbon emissions and are more fuel efficient. According to JetBlue's website they are capable of lowering the fuel burn by 35%, making this airline a great choice for people who hope to reduce their carbon footprint when traveling.

In addition to improving emissions, JetBlue has had a recycling program in place since 2013. The airline requires their flight attendants to sort trash and recycling inflight, as long as it's "safe and feasible," according to the website. Back on the ground they're working to go-green through eco-friendly design choices, like utilizing natural light in their JFK terminal to reduce energy usage.

In order to formulate our list of the most eco-friendly airlines in the United States, we researched both domestic and international companies. We focused on current sustainability efforts aimed lowering emissions, as well as future goals. We looked at which airlines had been recognized for their efforts through awards, and which airlines prioritized sustainable investments by purchasing new aircraft and investing in more eco-friendly fuel. There may be more eco-friendly modes of transportation, but these five airlines are making tangible efforts towards a more sustainable future for travelers.