Ryanair slams EC over emissions trading scheme
Ryanair has called on the European Commission to abandon its plans to include aviation in the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and address the “chronically inefficient Air Traffic Control system in Europe, which accounts for 12% of aviation emissionsâ€.
At this week’s World Low Cost Airlines Congress 2008, it said the EC’s scheme would punish the most efficient airlines.
The airline’s director of legal and regulatory affairs Jim Callaghan said: “The Commission’s proposals for including aviation in ETS will do nothing for the environment and in fact will damage it as it punishes the most efficient airlines while protecting the most inefficient, like Alitalia and Olympic Airways.
“This is unsurprising given the Commission’s ongoing policy of rubber stamping billions of Euros in State aid to failing national airlines.
“If the Commission was serious about doing something for the environment, it would start actually enforcing the State aid rules and let these inefficient, polluting airlines go out of business. Transferring these passengers to efficient airlines like Ryanair would roughly halve existing airline emissions.
“We are therefore again calling on the European Commission to stop approving illegal State aid to the likes of Alitalia and Olympic Airways and do the environment a favour!â€.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026