United Airlines sustainability score: 19/100
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).
More about United Airlines
The company operates thousands of daily flights consuming approximately 4 billion gallons of jet fuel annually.
Founded 1968Head office Chicago, United StatesStaff ~100,000Revenue ~$57.1BWebsite ↗
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. Scores are free. Companies can never pay for anything about their own score. Last verified May 2026.
That places United Airlines joint 907th of 934 companies scored, and 22nd of 23 in Airlines / Aviation.
What is United Airlines doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Transparency & Accountability (7/10, 6/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Energy Source (1/10, 1/10).
Where United Airlines lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
- Emissions from its own operations7/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain5/10Most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions aren't measured.
- Whether its emissions are falling1/10No evidence its emissions are falling, not even from energy bills or mileage.
- How clean its energy is1/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- Its effect on nature2/10No assessment of its effect on nature, and no basic environmental policy.
- How it uses materials and handles waste3/10No active waste reduction, reuse or repair shown.
- Its effect on water2/10No monitoring of water use, or no measures to reduce it.
- Its climate targets4/10Its targets aren't science-based or committed to the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports6/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
- Its record on controversies2/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is United Airlines's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleHas United Airlines's score changed?
United Airlines's score has moved from 21 to 19 across 2 recorded reviews, down 2 points.
- 21 → 19-218 August 2026
Re-classified Aerospace[38] -> Airlines / Aviation[28]; score 21->19
- Scored 218 February 2026
Initial score at platform launch
What evidence is United Airlines's score based on?
11 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
55% of them were published by United Airlines itself; the rest come from independent sources.
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
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How does United Airlines compare with other airlines / aviation companies?
Where United Airlines sits among airlines / aviation peers.
Among the 23 major airlines / aviation brands we've scored, United Airlines sits 22nd of 23.
Who scores higher in Airlines / Aviation?
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 →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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