20.06.2024

EU plans to exempt long-haul flights from new emissions rules

The European Commission is drawing up plans to exempt long-haul flights from rules on monitoring their non-CO2 emissions. This is happening as a result of increased lobbying by international carriers, reports Reuters.

The EU is drawing up plans to require airlines to track and report their contribution to climate change from January 2025 – not just carbon dioxide but also soot, nitrogen oxides and water vapour.

Airline emissions other than CO2 have at least as important an impact on global warming as CO2 emissions, according to the EU's aviation safety authority.

A draft Commission proposal for the new rules would exclude international flights (defined by the EU as those departing or landing in Europe from non-European destinations) from emissions disclosure rules for two years.

"Such reporting will only be required in respect of routes involving two airports located in the European Economic Area," the document said. It is also specified that flights from the EEA to Switzerland or the UK will also be covered by the regulation.

No justification was provided for the exclusion. The exemption reflects current EU rules that require airlines to disclose and pay fees for their CO2 emissions produced only by flights within Europe, although these rules are due to be revised in 2026.

Reactions

The proposed new rules have divided the industry, with lobby group the International Air Transport Association (IATA) calling for an exemption for long-haul flights, while low-cost European carriers Ryanair and Easyjet say all flights - including long-haul international travel - should be included.

IATA said it is currently not possible to accurately monitor flight emissions other than CO2 and that the EU's emissions monitoring requirements should be voluntary and exempt from international flights.

"Any intention to extend coverage to international flights outside the EU would raise legal concerns," IATA Director General Willie Walsh said in a letter to the European Commission in April.