Airbus, Asia Pacific carriers lash EU carbon tax
Opposition to the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme has intensified during discussions at the Singapore Airshow this week.
Airbus CEO Tom Enders said he was concerned at the potential fall-out if tensions are not defused.
“What started out as a solution for the environment has become a source of potential trade conflict and that should be a worry for all of us,” he said.
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said opposition to the scheme was based on the way it is applied.
“I was quoting the example of us flying non-stop from Singapore all the way to Europe. We get charged the whole journey, when somebody who could fly passengers to an intermediate point, and from there go to Europe, ends up paying much less,” he said.
Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, said, “The risk for the airlines if this degenerates into a tit-for-tat trade war, is that airlines will be caught in a cross-fire from both sides.”
Cathay Pacific CEO John Slosar told a senior European Commission official at the airshow, “You can’t have it both ways.
There’s a difference between leadership and bludgeoning. You guys applied the latter, and now you’re discovering it works both ways.”
Last week China banned its airlines from joining the scheme, which levies a charge on flights in EU airspace based on carbon emissions.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025