The Carbon Cost of Flying to Phuket: London vs Rome, Airlines Compared
Which flights to Phuket have the lowest carbon footprint — and does choosing a different airline really make a difference?
Coolvoyage Plus | Sustainable Travel Insights
Flying to Phuket is the beginning of an extraordinary journey. But long before travellers reach Thailand’s beaches, islands and communities, their holiday has already generated a significant environmental impact.
For travellers departing from London or Rome, the choice of airline, aircraft and connecting airport can influence the carbon footprint of their journey. Yet identifying the lower-emission option is not always as simple as choosing the shortest flight or booking with an airline that promotes its environmental credentials.
At Coolvoyage Plus, we believe sustainable travel begins with better information — not better advertising.
This independent analysis examines how flights between London and Phuket, and Rome and Phuket, can differ in their estimated carbon emissions. Using February 2027 as our reference period, we focus on return journeys in Economy Class and compare emissions on a per-passenger basis.
Why the Airline You Choose Matters
Two travellers heading to the same destination may generate different amounts of aviation-related emissions.
Several factors contribute to those differences:
- Aircraft type: Different aircraft have different fuel consumption and passenger capacities.
- Flight distance: Connecting through another airport can increase the total distance travelled.
- Cabin configuration: The space allocated to each passenger affects how emissions are distributed across seats.
- Passenger occupancy: The number of passengers carried influences per-passenger calculations.
- Operational conditions: Routing, weather and other flight-specific factors can affect actual fuel consumption.
These differences mean that an airline’s general environmental reputation cannot reliably tell us which individual flight has the lowest footprint.
What Exactly Are We Measuring?
One of the most important distinctions in aviation sustainability is the difference between carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e).
CO₂ measures carbon dioxide emissions, while CO₂e expresses the warming impact of different greenhouse gases using a common unit. Aviation also produces climate effects beyond its direct CO₂ emissions, including those associated with contrails.
For this comparison, we will identify the measurement used by each data source and avoid treating different metrics as interchangeable.
Our aim is straightforward: to help travellers understand what the available evidence can — and cannot — tell them about the environmental impact of flying to Phuket.