Annual Smart Freight Centre Airline ESG Survey

About

Smart Freight Centre’s Airline ESG Survey supports airfreight procurement by providing insightful data on airline sustainability efforts. The standardized reporting template is designed to help shippers, Logistics Service Providers (LSPs), and others make informed decisions when selecting carriers, and can also serve as a reference for setting or updating sustainability strategies. By promoting transparency and encouraging continuous improvement, the survey advances sustainability across the airline industry and its value chain, while simplifying procurement processes through standardized data exchange.

How does the survey work?

Customers of air freight services invite airlines to complete Smart Freight Centre’s standardized, peer-reviewed ESG Survey, which captures greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fleet composition data as well as broader sustainability measures in a consistent format.

Airlines submit their completed survey forms to airlinesurvey@smartfreightcentre.org to ensure their data is included in SFC’s consolidated report, which compiles all submissions received during the reporting period. This report is shared exclusively with the Clean Air Transport (CAT) program’s non-airline members, including leading global shippers and Logistics Service Providers (LSPs). Individual data from airlines will not be shared with other airlines (neither other participating airlines nor airlines within SFC’s membership) or the public.

In addition, selected data from all submissions – regardless of whether they are shared with SFC members – will be aggregated anonymously into a public benchmarking report. This report will present industry-wide averages and trends, illustrated with charts and graphics, without revealing any individual airline’s data (see the 2024 Benchmarking Report here).

Airlines that choose not to share their responses with all Logistics Service Provider and shipper members of the CAT program can still use the survey questionnaire as a standardized tool to communicate their sustainability efforts directly to selected customers requesting such information. However, they are strongly encouraged to also submit their completed surveys to airlinesurvey@smartfreightcentre.org so their efforts can be included – anonymously – in the industry-wide benchmarking.

To track progress and emerging trends, the survey is conducted annually, with returning participants invited to update their responses each year.

Download 2025 Survey Questionnaire

Benefits for different stakeholders

Airlines

  • Are able to present their services to a wide audience of customers and potential new customers interested in purchasing sustainable airfreight solutions
  • Can enhance their reputation by showcasing their ESG efforts
  • Gain insights into industry standards and developments
  • Receive an industry-wide benchmark of their own sustainability performance
  • Use the benchmarking as a basis for further development of their sustainability measures

Airline Partners

  • Receive consolidated information on airlines’ sustainability efforts supporting them in making more informed choices
  • Are presented with a consolidated overview of the most important sustainability criteria regarding air freight
  • Can increase their reputation with clients by selecting the most sustainable airlines
  • Gain insights into industry standards and developments
  • Are supported in their development and revision of realistic (science-based) sustainability targets and strategies

Survey Timeline

June 2, 2025 - Release of 2025 Airline ESG Survey

Following a collaborative revision process of the survey questionnaire involving the CAT program’s membership, the 2025 Airline ESG Survey is now available for download.

August 31, 2025 - Deadline for survey completion and submission.

By completing and submitting the survey by this date, you allow us to compile and analyze the data in a timely manner and make sure your data will be part of the consolidated report (if applicable) as well as the benchmarking report.

October 2025 – Release of consolidated report

As soon as all the answers have been collected from the airlines and compiled in a single document, they will be shared with the CAT program’s LSP and shipper members.

December 2025 – Release of benchmarking report

The publicly available benchmarking report will present industry averages and key insights based on all survey responses – without disclosing any individual airline's data. It will be published on this website. Participating airlines will automatically receive a copy at the email address used for their submission.

Instructions for airlines

  • Download the 2025 survey questionnaire here.

  • Fill out all required fields with accurate and up-to-date information. Should you have any questions during the process, please send us an e-mail to airlinesurvey@smartfreightcentre.org and we’ll happily assist you.

  • Receive the annual SFC Airline ESG Survey Benchmarking Report upon completion of the survey cycle. This report provides valuable insights into industry trends and allows you to benchmark your sustainability efforts. Individual airline responses will never be shared with other airlines . A consolidation of survey answers will be exclusively shared with the non-airline membership of Smart Freight Centre’s Clean Air Transport Program (LSPs and shippers).

Note:

Even if your airline chooses not to share responses with the Clean Air Transport (CAT) program’s shipper and LSP members, we strongly encourage you to submit the completed survey to airlinesurvey@smartfreightcentre.org. Your submission will contribute to the publicly available benchmarking report, which is based on aggregated results from all responses received (see the 2024 Benchmarking Report here). Individual responses will not be included or disclosed in any form in this report. You are welcome to share your survey responses directly with your customers to ensure full transparency where desired.

Instructions for LSPs and Shippers

  • Contact the airlines you are (interested in) doing business with and request them to complete the Smart Freight Centre Airline ESG Survey.

  • Ask them to submit the completed survey before the deadline - August 31, 2025.

  • As a member of Smart Freight Centre’s Clean Air Transport program, you will receive a consolidated report containing the survey responses from all participating airlines that have agreed to share their data with all CAT shipper and LSP members. This report serves as the main channel for accessing and comparing airline responses. In addition, you may receive survey forms directly from airlines, if they choose to share them with you individually.

Need help?

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us at airlinesurvey@smartfreightcentre.org.

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