European aviation organisations have urged the European Commission to ensure emissions trading reforms support both decarbonisation and competitiveness.
A coalition of leading European aviation organisations has called on the European Commission to ensure the upcoming review of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) supports aviation decarbonisation without undermining the sector’s competitiveness.
The appeal was made through an open letter issued by the DESTINATION 2050 alliance, which represents airlines, airports, air navigation service providers and aerospace manufacturers across Europe.
European aviation industry outlines priorities for ETS review
The industry alliance warned that decisions taken during the EU ETS review will play a critical role in shaping both the environmental and economic future of European aviation.
According to the letter, maintaining the current geographical scope of the EU ETS for aviation should remain a priority. The group argued that any unilateral expansion beyond the existing framework could distort competition in favour of non-European airlines and airports while potentially triggering retaliatory measures from third countries.
The alliance pointed to previous international opposition following proposals to extend the scheme beyond European airspace in 2012 and cautioned that similar measures could create further challenges in today’s geopolitical environment.
DESTINATION 2050 stated that a strengthened Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) should remain the preferred global approach to managing carbon emissions from international aviation.
The industry groups also called for aviation-related revenues generated through the EU ETS to be reinvested directly into aviation decarbonisation projects.
Focus on sustainable aviation fuel and innovation
A central recommendation concerns support for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which the industry views as a key pathway towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The alliance argued that revenues generated through the emissions trading framework should help support SAF production and uptake across the aviation ecosystem while also contributing to the development of new aircraft and engine technologies.
Industry leaders additionally called for the extension of SAF allowances beyond 2030 to help bridge the cost gap between conventional aviation fuel and lower-carbon alternatives.
The letter also urged policymakers to prioritise aviation projects within the EU ETS Innovation Fund, reflecting the scale of investment required to achieve long-term decarbonisation goals.
DESTINATION 2050 said European aviation remains fully committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 but stressed that future climate policies must balance environmental ambition with investment certainty, global competitiveness and industrial resilience.
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