Brussels, 06/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - The arrival of 2012 also means entry to the ETS (Emissions Trading System) for EU aviation. The European ETS directive took effect on 1 January on the purchase of polluting emissions from aviation, for aircraft flying to or from the EU. The aviation sector is now resigned to this despite a categorical refusal from Beijing to submit to the carbon tax (see EUROPE 10525), but admits that consumers should also put their hands in their pockets.
The spokesman for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Chris Goater, spoke of his disappointment regarding the imposition of emissions credit swaps for aviation. Speaking to Agence France Presse (AFP), he repeated that his association still recommended referring the matter to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in order to find a global rather than regional solution.
European airlines, such as Lufthansa and Air-France-KLM, are perfectly open about the fact that the additional cost entailed by ETS will be passed on to the passengers. The Franco-Dutch group, Air France-KLM, states the carbon tax cost would be between €50 million and €100 million this year. The amount estimated by the German company Lufthansa could be as much as €130 million. (MD/transl.jl)