The association representing European airlines, Airlines for Europe (A4E), has repeatedly stressed the need to finalise the implementation of the Single European Sky (SES) on Tuesday 10 December at a press conference in Brussels following the first meeting between A4E and Adina-Ioana Vălean, the new European Commissioner for Transport.
According to Thomas Reynaert, Director General of A4E, the completion of the SES must be the Commission’s transport priority, as this “can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 10%”.
This idea was put forward by the Commissioner during her hearing before the European Parliament. However, it was not unanimously accepted by all MEPs (see EUROPE 12369/3).
Not surprisingly, A4E once again denounced the idea put forward by nine Member States (the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden) to establish “a European initiative on civilian aviation pricing” (see EUROPE 12365/5, 12366/32).
Instead, the association asked the Commissioner to put in place investments and incentives for “sustainable development for aviation in Europe”.
“Aviation taxes do nothing for the environment. On the contrary, they restrict the ability of airlines to invest in new aircraft, in innovation or in sustainable fuels”, said Mr Reynaert.
Michael O’Leary, President of A4E and CEO of Ryanair, also described the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) as “a joke”, while saying that European airlines are already paying “astonishing quantities of environmental taxes”.
In his view, this system discriminates against consumers by creating an additional cost for short-term flights within the EU compared to long-term flights outside the EU operated by both European and non-European airlines.
To consult A4E’s press release presenting its priorities: https://bit.ly/2RBre2t (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)