EU raises fees for airlines emitting CO2 on intra-European flights

this the exception affects emissions from flights between the outermost regions such as the Canary Islands and to travel by plane between two different airports within the countries of the European Union and also within the same outermost region of the same Member State.

The political agreement, which has not yet been formalized by Member States and the European Parliament, excludes international flights (from or to third countries) that are subject to the United Nations global emissions trading system known as CORSIA.

But the agreement obliges the European Commission to review whether this international framework contributes to the industry’s contribution to tackling global warming, so if the assessment is negative, it would have to initiate a legislative proposal to include international flights to Europe. The system was announced in a statement by the European Parliament.

Aviation is part of the EU ETS system where reduced emissions permits are traded each year.. The mechanism also provides for free sharing of allowances and currently 82% of aviation allowances are part of this pool.

so eThe agreement between Member States and Members of the European Parliament foresees the abolition of all free CO2 emission credits from 2026One year earlier than envisaged in the original proposal, which the European Commission included in the Fit for 55 package a year and a half ago.

To ensure the phasing out of free allocations, The agreement stipulates that 25% of these loans will be withdrawn by 2024, and 50% have already been liquidated a year later.

On the other hand, the negotiators of both institutions have agreed to allocate 20 million emissions credits between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2030 for airlines using renewable fuels such as hydrogen or other biofuels from clean sources.

Regarding emissions of gases other than CO2, such as nitrogen oxides or sulfur dioxide, The agreement obliges the European Commission to establish an information, data and verification mechanism from 2025. which serves to prepare a proposal covering these gases.

Frustration of conservationists and industry

For the environmental organization Transport & Environment, agreement reached by community institutions falls short Under the exclusion of international flights, the bloc “loses another decade” in climate action through the “cowardice” of European governments.

“Average European families will continue to pay much more for CO2 emissions than for frequent long-haul flights”lamented Jo Dardenne, the organization’s aviation director.

The Airlines For Europe (A4E) platform, which represents the majority of airlines in Europe, reminded that the industry has “paid its emissions through the ETS system since 2012” in the face of this situation. cost “likely to increase fivefold by 2025” more than 5,000 million per year”.

As such, the European aviation employers association assured that it is “extremely disappointed” that all free loans will be withdrawn from 2026; to work.