United Airlines is a major U.S. carrier operating extensive domestic and international networks.
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United's emissions are rising in absolute terms while the company pursues intensity-only targets and minimal renewable energy adoption. Absolute emissions grew 5.76% year-over-year to 52.3Mt in 2024. The airline's climate lobbying actively opposes decarbonization policy, and SAF comprises just 0.3% of fuel despite greenwashing claims.
United Airlines scores 19/100 (Significant gaps) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Fees pay for the review, never the result. Last verified May 2026.
That places United Airlines joint 816th of 847 companies scored, and 22nd of 23 in Airlines / Aviation.
Where United Airlines sits among airlines / aviation peers.
Among the 23 major airlines / aviation brands we've scored, United Airlines sits 22nd of 23.
Its three lowest-scoring questions, and what the evidence didn't show.
Intensity improved 1.4% in 2024 but absolute emissions rise.
SAF comprised only 0.3% of total fuel in 2024.
No TNFD-aligned disclosure, formal biodiversity impact assessment, quantified nature footprint, or deforestation-free supply chain commitment identified.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Evidence that isn't public can count through an evidence review.
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Get in touch →Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Transparency & Accountability (7/10, 6/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Energy Source (1/10, 1/10).
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above United Airlines.
Emirates operates one of the world's largest airline fleets with demonstrably rising absolute emissions—up 22% year-on-year to 40 Mt CO₂e in 2024.
See the breakdown →ITA Airways publishes only intensity-based emissions reductions while absolute figures remain undisclosed—a critical gap as fleet and traffic grow.
See the breakdown →LOT Polish Airlines operates a large, rapidly expanding fleet with zero emissions disclosure and no absolute reduction targets.
See the breakdown →United Airlines's score has moved from 21 to 19 across 2 recorded reviews, down 2 points.
Re-classified Aerospace[38] -> Airlines / Aviation[28]; score 21->19
Initial score at platform launch
The formula and all 11 sources.
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale11 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
United Airlines is a major U.S. carrier operating extensive domestic and international networks. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Chicago, it is one of the world's largest airlines by revenue ($44.96B in 2022). The company operates thousands of daily flights consuming approximately 4 billion gallons of jet fuel annually.
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