A group of airlines and airports are calling for changes to the European Union’s planned climate change legislation, insisting that it will make them less competitive with non-European rivals.
Recall that the European Union, taking aim at aviation, a sector deemed responsible for up to 3% of global emissions, presented plans last July that will foresee stricter rules on CO2 emissions and the use of synthetic fuel blends, as well as the implementation of a kerosene tax.
The alliance, with nearly 20 members, argued that long-haul flights via non-European hubs would not be subjected to the same associated costs, leading to a potential shift in business to such carriers.
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The alliance also rejected a kerosene tax outright and proposed that the environmental protection surcharge should be based on the entire flight route, not just feeder flights bringing passengers from the EU to international hubs such as Istanbul or Dubai.
The alliance was, however, in favour of the EU’s “Fit for 55” climate package, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels.
