COP31 in Antalya: What the UN Climate Summit Means for Aviation So Far

The UN Climate Change Conference, COP31, opened in Antalya on 9 November and runs until 20 November 2026. Türkiye is hosting the summit, with Australia leading the negotiations, and world leaders are in the city this week for the high-level segment. For aviation, the summit brings two stories: a major operational effort at Antalya Airport, and a renewed debate on how international flying reaches net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

Antalya Airport on high alert

Antalya Airport is the main gateway for delegations, diplomats and observers. According to the state news agency AA, around 1,500 police officers have been working at the airport since the conference opened, supported by a network of about 5,000 cameras. Vehicles are searched at the first checkpoint and passenger checks have been stepped up. Across the city, Turkish authorities have deployed close to 28,000 security and traffic personnel for the summit.

Antalya is used to large events in 2026: the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in April and the International Space Congress in October both passed through the same airport. Even so, crews operating into AYT this month should expect extra screening, VIP movements and possible short-notice slot or parking restrictions.

ICAO makes the case for a global approach

ICAO is using COP31 to argue that international aviation emissions are best handled through its own global framework rather than a patchwork of national measures. Its headline goal is net-zero CO2 from international flights by 2050. ICAO also points to progress on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF): certified SAF volumes more than doubled in 2025, saving an estimated 1.1 million tonnes of CO2.

The key near-term date is 2027. From then, the offsetting obligations of CORSIA, ICAO's carbon offsetting scheme, apply to flights between the participating member states, a much wider group than in the voluntary phase.

IATA: CORSIA at ten and the SAF gap

For IATA, 2026 marks ten years since CORSIA was adopted, and the association continues to describe it as the only global market-based measure for international aviation. Its main concern is supply: the number of CORSIA-eligible emissions units available is growing, but remains well short of the 200 to 250 million units airlines will need by January 2028.

On SAF, IATA calls production volumes "still disappointing". Around 200 SAF projects with up to 30 million tonnes of capacity by 2030 have been announced, but IATA expects that perhaps a third will never be built. It argues that technology roll-out, not feedstock, is the real bottleneck, and asks governments for policies that speed up investment, such as book-and-claim systems and support for e-SAF.

One to watch: premium flyer levies

A coalition of countries led by France, Spain and Kenya, launched in 2025, wants higher taxes on premium-class tickets and private jets to fund climate resilience. The idea is being discussed again at side events in Antalya. Airline and airport associations oppose new ticket taxes, warning that they would hit connectivity and divert money from decarbonisation. Any decision would be taken by individual governments, not at COP31 itself.

What it means for crews

• Flying into Antalya this month: allow extra time for crew screening and ground transport, and check NOTAMs for VIP and security restrictions.

• Airline careers: SAF, CORSIA compliance and fuel efficiency are becoming everyday topics in airline operations, and they come up more often in interviews and company briefings.

• Ticket costs: new levies or offsetting costs could affect demand on premium and long-haul routes over the coming years.

Pilotium will follow any aviation outcomes from COP31 as the conference closes on 20 November.

Sources: Milliyet/AA (6 Nov 2026); Hürriyet Daily News (Nov 2026); aeroTELEGRAPH (Nov 2026, citing ICAO); ICAO (COP31 news); IATA (IATA at COP31); Climate Home News.