• Avianca achieved a reduction of nearly 20 percent in its carbon intensity, moving from 82.6 grams of carbon per available seat kilometre to 66.3 grams.
• This scale of reduction is a feat that few, if any, global carriers have been able to achieve.

In commercial aviation, growth and emissions usually move in the same direction. Airlines add more flights, burn more fuel, and produce more carbon. This pattern has held true for decades, which is why Avianca’s performance since 2019 is so striking.

According to EmeraldSky data, Avianca stands apart from every other large carrier. During the past five years, the airline increased its overall capacity by more than 18 percent (18.1 percent) while also reducing total carbon emissions by more than five percent (5.1 percent). This combination simply does not happen often.

The natural question is how Avianca achieved something that most airlines still describe as a long-term aspiration rather than an immediate reality.

A Fleet That Looks Very Different Today

Every story about emissions begins with the fleet. Avianca made a series of bold and disciplined choices that reshaped the aircraft it flies. Nearly two thirds of its Airbus A319 aircraft left the operation along with its entire group of A321 aircraft. In their place the airline introduced a significantly larger number of A320neo aircraft and additional A320ceo aircraft.

The long-haul operation changed as well. Older A330 aircraft departed while the Boeing 787 fleet grew. Avianca also left behind its regional jet and turboprop operations, choosing to simplify and focus on aircraft that deliver stronger fuel performance.

One of the most important results is the increase in average aircraft size. The typical Avianca aircraft carried 144 seats in 2019. Today that figure is 181. This was achieved by reconfiguring all its fleet, both narrow and wide bodies airplanes. Although the average age of the fleet increased slightly to nine and a half years, which reflects global supply chain issues that affected all airlines, the overall efficiency of the fleet still improved meaningfully.

More Seats and More Efficiency

By 2024 Avianca had restored its flight activity to the same level it operated in 2019. The difference is that the airline generated far more capacity because it was flying larger aircraft and flying them slightly farther on average. The removal of turboprop flying also meant that flight time did not materially increase even as stage length grew.

This resulted in an 18.1% increase in available seat kilometers. At the same time the shift toward newer and more efficient aircraft produced a reduction in absolute carbon emissions of 5.1 percent.

When combined, these factors created a major improvement in carbon intensity. Avianca moved from 82.6 grams of carbon per available seat kilometer to 66.3 grams. This represents a reduction of nearly 20%, which very few global airlines have managed to achieve on this scale.

A Model for Responsible Growth

Avianca’s experience shows that it is possible to grow and still reduce the environmental impact of flying. It requires discipline in fleet planning, a willingness to retire older aircraft, and a long-term commitment to efficiency.

The journey for the aviation industry is not finished, but Avianca has shown what is possible when strategy and execution come together with clarity of intent. The airline is not only growing. It is growing in a more responsible way, and that achievement deserves attention.

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