United Airlines sustainability score: 19/100
Better than 0% of Airlines / Aviation
Below expectations starts at 31. The highest score on SINK is 71.
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. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it. Last verified May 2026.
That places United Airlines joint 991st of 1,023 companies scored, and 23rd 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.
What would raise this score
- Whether its emissions are fallingShow its emissions are falling.
- How clean its energy isMove to a renewable energy tariff or make a major efficiency investment.
- Its effect on natureAssess its effect on nature and publish a basic environmental policy.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations7/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain5/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling1/10No evidence its emissions are falling.
- 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?
United Airlines sits at the bottom of the airlines / aviation pack.
Among the 23 major airlines / aviation brands we've scored, United Airlines sits 23rd of 23.
Who scores higher in Airlines / Aviation?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above United Airlines.
ITA Airways publishes only intensity-based emissions reductions while absolute figures remain undisclosed—a critical gap as fleet and traffic grow.
See the breakdown →Qatar Airways reports a one-year group inventory with assurance on Scope 1, but its Scope 3 covers purchased electricity only.
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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