Avoid the Top 5 Aviation Emissions Reporting Pitfalls & Simplify Verification

Tired of the back-and-forth with verifiers? Here's how to fix it

You’ve done the hard work—gathered flight data, compiled emissions numbers, and finally hit “submit” on your sustainability report. But then… the dreaded email arrives. Your verifier has questions. Data is missing. An exemption wasn’t applied correctly. Now you’re stuck in a frustrating loop of revisions, eating up valuable time and adding stress to an already complex process.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. But the good news is, most verification headaches are avoidable. In this guide, developed with insights from Normec Verifavia and SITA, we’ll walk you through the most common reporting mistakes—and how to fix them before they cost you time, money, and sanity.

1. Stop costly delays before they start: The power of internal validation

Ever had a report come back with unexpected red flags? You’re sure you did everything right, but somehow, verifiers are finding issues—missing flights, negative fuel values, or discrepancies in reported fuel burn. And when that happens, the verification process slows to a crawl. The root cause? Small data errors that snowball into big problems. A missing fuel value might not seem like a big deal, but if there’s no valid secondary data, emissions will be estimated—often on the high side, which means extra costs for your airline.

How to avoid it:

• Identify data gaps early and report them correctly according to regulatory requirements.
• Run an internal validation check before submission.
• Use automated alerts to flag unusual values before they become a problem.

Catching errors before submission means less back-and-forth with verifiers and faster approvals.

2. Avoid re-work: Use up-to-date emission reporting templates and regulations

Regulations change constantly, and so do emissions report templates. If your report uses last year’s format, outdated emissions factors, or missed a change in the reporting scope, verifiers will have to send it back. The worst part? These changes aren’t always obvious. One overlooked detail could mean a complete resubmission.

How to stay ahead:

• Always check for the latest reporting templates—don’t copy-paste from last year.
• Keep up with regulatory changes and stay in touch with your Competent or Administering Authority to ensure compliance.
• Provide data in a consistent format—use standard fuel units, ICAO airport codes, and UTC dates and times.

By staying updated, you avoid last-minute rewrites and ensure smoother verification.

3. Avoid unnecessary costs by getting flight exemptions right

Not all exemptions are created equal. A flight exempt under EU ETS might not be exempt under CORSIA. If these aren’t classified properly with the correct exemption code, airlines could end up paying for extra emissions.

How to avoid it:

• Use the appropriate exemption codes in your data for each reporting scheme to ensure exemptions can be validated and properly applied.
• Provide the right evidence (Eurocontrol CRCO proforma, field 18 flight plan remarks).

Getting exemptions right the first time means lower costs and fewer headaches.

4. Stay organized: Have your documents ready before verification

When it comes to verification, numbers alone aren’t enough—verifiers need proof. Fuel slips, logbooks, ACARS messages, and journey logs must all be accounted for, and scrambling to find them at the last minute can be a nightmare.

How to make it easier:

• Keep all supporting documents in one place so they’re easy to access. Historical records must be kept for at least 10 years!
• Ensure exemption evidence and methodology details are ready before submission.
• Make sure your data contains all the necessary data points for the calculation of your chosen fuel use monitoring method.
• Use correct ICAO State names in CORSIA reports—verifiers will check!

Being organized upfront means a faster, smoother verification process.

5. Plan ahead to meet reporting deadlines without the rush

Missing reporting deadlines creates unnecessary stress and increases the risk of rushed submissions and errors. Different schemes have different timelines, and leaving reporting to the last minute means less time to fix mistakes.

How to stay on track:

• Track all reporting deadlines for EU ETS, UK ETS, ReFuelEU, CORSIA and any other applicable regulation.
• Run an internal audit before submission to catch any last-minute issues.
• Ensure everyone knows their role in the reporting process from the start of the year.

Submitting early means fewer errors, faster approvals, and peace of mind.

Simplify compliance with SITA Eco Mission

Let’s be honest—no airline wants to spend weeks fixing reports. Keeping up with regulations, checking exemptions, validating data, and scrambling for documents—it all adds up.

That’s where SITA Eco Mission comes in.

Instead of juggling spreadsheets and emails, SITA Eco Mission automates the reporting process, making compliance effortless. Here’s how:

• Automated data validation: Catch errors before submission and reduce verification delays.
• Regulation tracking: Stay updated on the latest compliance requirements and templates.
• Centralized document management: Keep all supporting documents in one place, ready for verifiers.
• Accurate exemption handling: Ensure flights are correctly classified, avoiding unnecessary costs.
• No deadline stress: Track data and alerts and do easy updates throughout the year to avoid stress at the end.

With SITA Eco Mission, your reports are audit-ready from the start, eliminating unnecessary corrections and resubmissions.

Want to get ahead of next year’s reporting? Book a demo today and see how SITA Eco Mission makes compliance effortless. Consider it your first step toward nailing Step 5!