SITA, Amadeus, and the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) announced a new data partnership in November 2025 that they say will give air travelers far clearer information about the greenhouse gases produced by each flight they take. By linking the SITA Eco Mission platform with the Amadeus Travel Impact Suite, the group plans to deliver verified, flight‑specific emissions figures directly into booking tools used by airlines, travel agencies, and corporate travel managers throughout the Middle East and beyond.
Why this matters now
The collaboration responds to rising pressure on aviation to cut its share of climate pollution while remaining the main way people move between countries for work, study, and family life.
For many immigrants flying repeatedly between their country of origin and their new home — and for employers that sponsor international staff — the carbon cost of air travel is becoming part of ethical and commercial decisions. Yet emissions numbers shown today on many booking sites are often based on broad averages rather than the actual aircraft type, route, and operating conditions for a specific flight.
How the systems work together
At the heart of the plan is SITA Eco Mission, which uses detailed aircraft performance records, fuel‑burn data, and live operational information to estimate how much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases a particular flight emits.
Those calculations will feed into the Amadeus Travel Impact Suite, an open platform that already gathers emissions estimates from several well‑known standards and data providers. Amadeus says combining these sources should give a more consistent view of climate impact across different airlines and booking channels, reducing confusion for passengers who may see different figures for the same route depending on where they search.
Key technical benefits
- Flight‑level accuracy using actual aircraft performance and operational data
- Consolidation of multiple standards and data providers into one view
- Integration with booking tools used by airlines, travel agencies, and corporate travel managers
Stakeholders and their roles
| Stakeholder | Role / Contribution |
|---|---|
| SITA / SITA Eco Mission | Provides flight‑level emissions calculations from aircraft performance and fuel data |
| Amadeus / Travel Impact Suite | Aggregates emissions data into booking tools and presents consistent estimates across channels |
| AACO | Coordinates regional airline participation and frames the initiative within regional policy and customer relations |
| Airlines / Travel agencies / Corporations | Consumers of the data; will display emissions alongside fares and schedules |
| Governments / Regulators | Potential users of more granular data to evaluate policies and schemes like CORSIA and the EU ETS |
Quotes and perspectives
“Transparency builds trust between passengers and airlines,” said Yann Cabaret, CEO of SITA for Aircraft, calling the link between SITA Eco Mission and Amadeus Travel Impact Suite an important step toward “verified sustainability data.”
Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General of the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), framed the project as part of a broader effort by regional airlines to answer growing public concern about climate change without cutting essential air links. He said the initiative would “advance environmental sustainability and strengthen the relationship between airlines and customers.”
Maher Koubaa, an executive vice president at Amadeus, described the combined system as a “trusted emissions calculation source” that will let governments, corporations, and individual travelers make clearer environmental choices.
Impacts on migration‑related travel and decision‑making
While the announcement focuses on airlines and technology providers, the effects are likely to reach people who rely on cross‑border travel for immigration reasons.
- International students choosing flights to their universities may compare routes by emissions.
- Migrant workers flying on employer‑paid tickets could see employers consider carbon footprint in travel policies.
- Families booking complex multi‑stop journeys for consular appointments may use emissions data alongside cost and convenience.
Some immigration‑linked sponsors, including universities and global firms, already include climate commitments in their travel policies. More credible emissions figures could push these sponsors to favor routes, aircraft types, or airports with lower footprints.
Policy and regulatory relevance
Governments are watching how emissions data may shape future rules for international travel. The European Commission, for instance, explains on its aviation and climate policy pages that accurate, comparable emissions figures are essential for carbon pricing and climate targets in the sector. These include schemes such as CORSIA (the UN‑backed offsetting system for international flights) and the European Union Emissions Trading System for aviation.
Better flight‑level information from tools like SITA Eco Mission and Amadeus Travel Impact Suite could help regulators test whether these programs are working as promised and may influence how routes linked to migration corridors are treated in future climate regulations.
Wider industry context and potential effects
Industry analysts say the partnership reflects a wider trend toward using detailed data to manage the environmental side of global mobility.
- According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, airlines and travel technology companies increasingly see climate reporting as part of customer service rather than a niche feature.
- Younger travelers, who may cross borders many times for study, work placements, or settlement, are particularly likely to be influenced by reliable emissions data.
- If emissions numbers become more trusted and widely available, they could influence not only individual booking choices but also which hubs grow as preferred gateways for immigrant communities.
Limitations and cautions
The collaboration does not create new legal duties for airlines or travelers, and it does not directly alter visa rules or border controls.
- It arrives when several countries are considering how to align immigration systems with broader climate goals (for example, encouraging digital processing to cut unnecessary trips or supporting rail alternatives on short‑haul routes).
- More granular emissions data could inform those debates, offering policymakers a clearer picture of how different categories of traveler contribute to aviation’s climate footprint.
Advocates caution that better information alone will not reduce pollution unless paired with other measures such as:
– Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
– More efficient fleets
– Operational changes and, in some cases, fewer flights
Deployment timeline and next steps
Details of how quickly the new data streams will appear in consumer‑facing tools are still emerging, but SITA and Amadeus say the integration work is already under way.
- AACO member airlines will start feeding SITA Eco Mission results into the Amadeus Travel Impact Suite.
- Passengers booking through member carriers or partner agencies should begin to see clearer emissions breakdowns alongside fares and schedules.
- Advocates and regulators will monitor uptake and the effect on consumer behaviour and policy discussions.
For migrants and frequent cross‑border travelers, having trusted climate data at the point of booking may offer some power to align travel choices with values while governments debate slower structural reforms over time.
This Article in a Nutshell
SITA, Amadeus and AACO announced in November 2025 a partnership to link SITA Eco Mission’s flight-level emissions calculations with the Amadeus Travel Impact Suite. The integration will feed verified, flight-specific greenhouse-gas figures into booking tools used by airlines, travel agencies, and corporate travel managers. AACO will coordinate airline participation regionally. The initiative aims to provide consistent, comparable emissions data, influence traveler and employer choices, and support regulators monitoring climate policy effects in aviation.
