The new chairman of the Assn. of European Airlines (AEA) has warned that tensions arising from the controversial EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) tax will be extremely damaging for European air travel.
Bernard Gustin, AEA chair and co-chief executive of Brussels Airlines, said that Europe was bracing itself for a “turbulent 2012” and it was therefore “more critical than ever to have a competitive and thriving European airline industry.”
Gustin said the political focus was “sadly” dominated by tensions over aviation’s inclusion in the EU ETS–not on the launch of landmark Single European Sky (SES) reforms, which will slash emissions by 12%, reduce delay times and cut airline operating costs.
“The ETS debate is like a volcano. When the tensions erupt, it is going to be extremely damaging for European air travel. A globally acceptable solution and a shift of focus from politics back to the environment is an absolute must for 2012,” he said.
“AEA’s members want to fuel the economic recovery. To achieve this, aviation must not be used as a regulatory playground, or as an austerity cash cow.”
He said the association’s focus for the coming 12 months will be “on removing inefficiency from the system and driving external costs down. As a key priority, we urgently need [European Union] member states to deliver on their Single European Sky promises.”
Article Source : ATW Daily News
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