EU courts reject US airlines’ ETS claim

The European Court of Justice has concluded all airlines will be included in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) when it is introduced on 1 January.

Courts have rejected a claim from US and Canadian carriers  to be excluded from the tax, arguing that the EU is not bound by agreements such as the UK-US open skies agreement and tax agreements made at the Chicago Convention. TUI Travel welcomed the news as it signals a global scheme.

“We see the inclusion of aviation within the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme as the first step towards a global emissions trading scheme. However, we are concerned by the number of countries that are opposed to the scheme and we are also concerned that there may be retaliatory action by those opposed to the EU ETS,” said Eddie Redfern, head of regulatory affairs at TUI. “We therefore call upon Member States to ensure that EU airlines are not discriminated against by the creation of an un-level playing field”.