Airline association appeals to European legislators to stop moving the goalposts on aviation ETS
Christoph Mueller, President of IACA and Aviation Director of TUI Travel
Mon 17 Nov 2008 – Speaking at last week’s Annual General Meeting of the International Air Carrier Association (IACA), its President, Christoph Mueller, called on MEPs to reject tough amendments to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme proposed by its Environment Committee (ENVI) when it comes before the European Parliament early next month as part of a general review of the scheme.
“The re-opening of the debate by the ENVI committee in October yet again moved the goalposts for aviation ETS,” he said. “It has created more uncertainty for airlines at a time when carriers need all the help they can to continue operating in these difficult times.
“The impact for airlines of a gradual increase in auctioning to 100% in 2020 will be immense – an unfathomable €8 billion ($10.2bn) on average per year for the airlines included in the scheme. This cost level is unsustainable and especially in current circumstances. The aviation sector is currently adjusting to falling demand and the recent spike in oil prices, but these additional costs could cripple the sector.
“On behalf of all IACA airlines, we urge the Parliament and the Council to keep the design of the aviation ETS directive unchanged until 2020, and to review the design elements only on the basis of experience.”
The IACA AGM included a wide-ranging debate on the aviation ETS issue, bringing together airline executives representing leisure carriers, European Commission officials from DGs Environment and Transport, and MEP Dr Peter Liese, ENVI’s rapporteur on the directive.