Cutting carbon, cutting costs: What is Cost Index Optimization?
The pressure is on. Between rising fuel costs, evolving regulations and increasing demand for sustainability, airline operators are walking a tightrope. CORSIA—the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation—is no longer a distant initiative. It’s real, and its impact on your operations and margins is already taking shape.
The good news? Tools like Cost Index Optimization, built into Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro, are making it easier than ever to meet emissions goals without compromising efficiency—or profitability.
Let’s break down what this means for your fleet, your costs and your compliance game plan.
Quick recap: What is CORSIA?
CORSIA is the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) global plan to achieve carbon-neutral growth for international aviation (read our post on CORSIA 101). It requires operators to track, report and offset emissions that exceed a 2019 baseline.
Currently covering 60% of global international emissions, CORSIA will scale to 85% by 2027, bringing major markets like China, India and Brazil into the fold. And if your airline emits over 10,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually on international routes? You’re required to comply by the 2027 deadline.
Why compliance isn’t optional
Falling short on CORSIA can cost you—and in more ways than one:
- Offset purchases for emissions over baseline levels
- Fines or restrictions for non-compliance
- Reputational risks in a sustainability-driven market
The bottom line: the longer you wait, the more expensive it becomes to catch up.
Enter Cost Index Optimization: A smarter way to fly
Cost Index Optimization is a real-time advisory tool, built into Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro, that gives your pilots tail-specific, cruise-phase recommendations based on live flight data with just a few simple inputs—like altitude, weight and atmospheric conditions.
The result? Smarter speeds. Lower fuel burn. Less carbon.
What Cost Index Optimization delivers:
- 1–2% reduction in cruise-phase fuel consumption
- Real-time, tailored in-flight recommendations
- Zero need for new hardware or complex training
It’s one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to reduce your airline’s carbon footprint—and offset costs. But let’s take a look at these savings in practice with a Boeing 787 operator as an example:
- Fuel savings: Up to $246,000 per aircraft per year
- CO₂ reductions: Over 1.04 million kg annually
- Offset savings: ~$26,000 per aircraft at today’s carbon prices
These aren’t hypothetical savings—they’re happening now. Virgin Atlantic’s implementation of the Cost Index Optimization technology using our standalone app, Jeppesen FliteDeck Advisor, led to a 1.7% reduction in cruise fuel across its 787 fleet, saving 1,900 kg of CO₂ per flight.
Why Cost Index Optimization works so well
Seamless integration
Cost Index Optimization is fully embedded into FliteDeck Pro. There’s no additional tech stack to onboard, and pilot training is minimal—just plug in and go.
Immediate impact
While fleet upgrades or Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) adoption take time, this solution can start delivering measurable results in weeks, not years.
Regulatory alignment
As emissions targets tighten, being able to reduce output without relying solely on offsets gives you more control—and less exposure to market volatility.
Don’t wait until 2027 to comply
Every kilogram of fuel you save today is one less carbon credit you’ll need to buy tomorrow. As offset prices continue to climb and compliance soon becomes mandatory, early adopters will not only save—they’ll lead—making Cost Index Optimization a strategic investment into your operations’ long-term resilience.
Start now with a solution that’s already driving results for airlines globally. Contact our team today to see how easily you can integrate Cost Index Optimization into your FliteDeck Pro workflow—and start flying smarter, cleaner and more profitably.
The pressure is on. Between rising fuel costs, evolving regulations and increasing demand for sustainability, airline operators are walking a tightrope. CORSIA—the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation—is no longer a distant initiative. It’s real, and its impact on your operations and margins is already taking shape.
The good news? Tools like Cost Index Optimization, built into Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro, are making it easier than ever to meet emissions goals without compromising efficiency—or profitability.
Let’s break down what this means for your fleet, your costs and your compliance game plan.
Quick recap: What is CORSIA?
CORSIA is the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) global plan to achieve carbon-neutral growth for international aviation (read our post on CORSIA 101). It requires operators to track, report and offset emissions that exceed a 2019 baseline.
Currently covering 60% of global international emissions, CORSIA will scale to 85% by 2027, bringing major markets like China, India and Brazil into the fold. And if your airline emits over 10,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually on international routes? You’re required to comply by the 2027 deadline.
Why compliance isn’t optional
Falling short on CORSIA can cost you—and in more ways than one:
- Offset purchases for emissions over baseline levels
- Fines or restrictions for non-compliance
- Reputational risks in a sustainability-driven market
The bottom line: the longer you wait, the more expensive it becomes to catch up.
Enter Cost Index Optimization: A smarter way to fly
Cost Index Optimization is a real-time advisory tool, built into Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro, that gives your pilots tail-specific, cruise-phase recommendations based on live flight data with just a few simple inputs—like altitude, weight and atmospheric conditions.
The result? Smarter speeds. Lower fuel burn. Less carbon.
What Cost Index Optimization delivers:
- 1–2% reduction in cruise-phase fuel consumption
- Real-time, tailored in-flight recommendations
- Zero need for new hardware or complex training
It’s one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to reduce your airline’s carbon footprint—and offset costs. But let’s take a look at these savings in practice with a Boeing 787 operator as an example:
- Fuel savings: Up to $246,000 per aircraft per year
- CO₂ reductions: Over 1.04 million kg annually
- Offset savings: ~$26,000 per aircraft at today’s carbon prices
These aren’t hypothetical savings—they’re happening now. Virgin Atlantic’s implementation of the Cost Index Optimization technology using our standalone app, Jeppesen FliteDeck Advisor, led to a 1.7% reduction in cruise fuel across its 787 fleet, saving 1,900 kg of CO₂ per flight.
Why Cost Index Optimization works so well
Seamless integration
Cost Index Optimization is fully embedded into FliteDeck Pro. There’s no additional tech stack to onboard, and pilot training is minimal—just plug in and go.
Immediate impact
While fleet upgrades or Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) adoption take time, this solution can start delivering measurable results in weeks, not years.
Regulatory alignment
As emissions targets tighten, being able to reduce output without relying solely on offsets gives you more control—and less exposure to market volatility.
Don’t wait until 2027 to comply
Every kilogram of fuel you save today is one less carbon credit you’ll need to buy tomorrow. As offset prices continue to climb and compliance soon becomes mandatory, early adopters will not only save—they’ll lead—making Cost Index Optimization a strategic investment into your operations’ long-term resilience.
Start now with a solution that’s already driving results for airlines globally. Contact our team today to see how easily you can integrate Cost Index Optimization into your FliteDeck Pro workflow—and start flying smarter, cleaner and more profitably.