EU Transport Ministers should seize the opportunity for a strong and sustainable European airline industry, says Airlines for Europe

Ahead of today’s transport ministerial meeting in Brussels, Airlines for Europe (A4E) is calling on transport ministers to turn words into action and focus on policies that can help to maintain a strong and competitive European airline industry.

Europe has faced multiple crises this year which has highlighted the need to ensure airlines can operate in a cost-efficient manner within a robust single market for aviation.

This week marks an important milestone for European aviation with key negotiations due to take place on ReFuelEU, the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) and on the Single European Sky. These files will have a significant impact on the future of Europe’s aviation industry so it is crucial to get them right.

A4E has written to EU transport ministers outlining key recommendations such as a single Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate to go with ambitious but achievable quotas for SAF, as well as pricing mechanisms to close the gap between SAF and fossil fuel. We also continue to urge member states to seize the opportunity of Single European Sky and its potential 10% reduction in emissions.

Commenting ahead of the meetings of ministers and other policymakers this week, Managing Director of A4E Thomas Reynaert said, “Aviation is a critical mode of transport for millions of Europeans and we urge policymakers to focus on implementing policies that can help airlines achieve their ambitious target of net zero emissions by 2050 while also maintaining a robust and competitive aviation market in Europe.”

Brussels, 5 December 2022

UPDATE

Following today’s Transport Ministers meeting in Brussels, the following can be attributed to Thomas Reynaert, Managing Director at A4E

“We commend the group of member states and Commissioner V?lean who expressed their strong public support in favour of the Single European Sky (SES2+) today. It’s long past time for talking and it is disgraceful that some member states continue to block a European solution that would unlock up to a ten percent reduction in aviation emissions while also advocating for flight bans and for tearing up the successful single aviation market. Commissioner V?lean has it right when she says that a ban on flights under 500KM would deliver less for the environment than implementing SES2+. Member states have an obligation to stop putting national interests ahead of European interests and deliver for European passengers, European airlines and, most importantly, the planet.”