(LYON, FRANCE) Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport said it reached net zero carbon emissions in May 2025, becoming the first airport in France with more than 10 million passengers to hit that mark, and doing so a full year ahead of its original 2026 target. The airport’s operator, VINCI Airports, stated the milestone covers its direct operational activities and is recognized at the highest level of the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, known as ACA Level 5. That recognition also notes the airport’s work to help partners cut emissions tied to their own operations.
VINCI Airports, which has operated Lyon Airport since 2016, reported a 94% reduction in direct CO₂ emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) between 2013 and 2024. Those direct cuts set the base for the net zero result, which is reached after only a small amount of residual emissions are offset each year.
For a major hub, this puts Lyon Airport among the most advanced in implementing a detailed plan to reduce energy use, switch to cleaner power, and improve equipment performance.
How Lyon Airport cut emissions
Airport managers cited a mix of upgrades and energy shifts that took place over several years. The core measures include:
- Solar power for self-consumption and green electricity backed by guarantees of origin.
- 100% LED lighting across terminals, parking areas, and airside zones.
- Heating from 100% biogas, certified with guarantees of origin, plus heat recovery from biogas co-generation.
- An optimized, partly electrified vehicle fleet, reducing fuel use on the ground.
- Improved air conditioning through new equipment, tighter management, and leak prevention.
The airport kept residual emissions under 500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year, and offsets those through local reforestation projects certified under the French Low Carbon Label. These projects were launched with the Rhône Department and the National Forestry Office in the northern Beaujolais area, tying the airport’s offset strategy to efforts in its home region.
Airport leaders emphasized that cuts come first, with offsets used only for what remains after technical and energy changes.
Additional 2025+ measures
- By the end of 2025: 25 MWp of photovoltaic plants expected in operation
- 20 MWp connected to the grid
- 5 MWp reserved for the airport’s own use
- This buildout is expected to avoid nearly 1,600 tonnes of CO₂ each year.
- Hydrogen refuelling station (Hympulsion) for light vehicles opened in partnership with the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region.
- Plan for 850 electric vehicle chargers by 2026 to support wider ground fleet shifts.
- Landing fee modulation that rewards aircraft with lower emissions.
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) distribution beginning in 2025 under the ReFuel EU rules, with local production partnerships already signed in early 2025.
What it means for travelers and airlines
Lyon Airport’s progress shows a large hub can cut direct operational emissions without reducing service scale. Airport managers say this effort can work alongside growth and strong connectivity.
Key implications:
- For airlines: landing fee policy provides a clear price signal for cleaner fleets and operations.
- For ground handlers and service companies: electrification and hydrogen options, plus more chargers, can reduce long-term running costs.
- For passengers: energy upgrades such as LEDs and improved air systems can enhance comfort while lowering power use.
Lyon follows Toulon Airport, which reached net zero in 2023. VINCI Airports has set broader targets: net zero for its direct activities by 2030 in the EU and UK, and by 2050 globally. With its latest result, Lyon Airport now stands among the 25 most advanced airports worldwide in terms of decarbonization, based on the operator’s assessment and ACA recognition.
Scope and accreditation
The airport’s net zero claim is narrowly focused on Scopes 1 and 2—that is, direct fuel use and purchased electricity for airport operations. The highest-level accreditation also acknowledges efforts to help others at the airport cut Scope 3 emissions, which include partner activities and, for many airports, a large share of total emissions.
Scope 3 reduction tools mentioned include:
- SAF supply and local production partnerships
- Cleaner ground handling options (electric/hydrogen)
- Fee signals encouraging newer, lower-emission aircraft types
Airport managers stress that these steps, combined with local offsets for the small balance of emissions, bring the operation to net zero while continuing day-to-day service.
ACA Level 5 confirms both direct cuts and a plan that includes partner engagement. It is seen as a rigorous benchmark because it requires proof of reductions and stakeholder action.
Policy and local benefits
Lyon Airport’s plan to distribute SAF in 2025 aligns with European rules designed to increase the share of cleaner aviation fuels across the bloc. The European Commission’s ReFuelEU Aviation policy lays out a path for rising SAF supply within the EU market; details are available on the Commission’s official page at the European Commission – ReFuelEU Aviation website.
Energy generation on and near the airport is a central part of the strategy:
- 25 MWp of solar capacity (grid export + self-consumption) reduces costs, emissions, and improves energy resilience.
- 100% LED lighting and tightened air conditioning systems bring steady savings.
- Full biogas switch for heating, with guarantees of origin, reduces the carbon footprint of building operations.
In the region, the offset projects carry local benefits beyond carbon. The Low Carbon Label certification, combined with work with the Rhône Department and the National Forestry Office, channels funds into forest management and replanting in the northern Beaujolais area.
Keeping residual emissions under 500 tonnes CO₂e per year ensures offsets remain small compared to the cuts already made.
Takeaways
- The airport delivered net zero a year early through focused technical upgrades, energy sourcing shifts, and targeted offsets.
- The mix of measures—solar, LEDs, biogas, electric/hydrogen fleets, fee signals, and SAF rollout—is a replicable toolkit for other major hubs, though site-specific factors will vary.
- The early delivery highlights that a clear plan, steady investment, and partner buy-in can produce measurable decarbonization results on a tight timeline.
Lyon Airport’s case will likely be watched by other major airports aiming to accelerate clean power, equipment upgrades, and collaborative emissions reduction strategies.
This Article in a Nutshell
Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport achieved net zero for direct operations in May 2025, one year earlier than planned, and became the first French airport with over 10 million passengers to do so. VINCI Airports reported a 94% reduction in direct CO₂ emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) from 2013 to 2024 and secured ACA Level 5 accreditation. The airport combined measures including solar power, 100% LED lighting, biogas heating, partial vehicle electrification, and HVAC improvements. Residual emissions below 500 tCO₂e are offset through certified local reforestation. Planned expansions include 25 MWp of solar, a hydrogen refuelling station, 850 EV chargers by 2026, landing fee modulation, and SAF distribution starting in 2025. The case demonstrates that major hubs can decarbonize while maintaining growth, offering a replicable toolkit for other airports and stakeholders.
