Germany’s Lufthansa Group, Fraport and Munich Airport have supported the climate protection goals proposed by the EU to make aviation CO₂-neutral by 2050. The trio also called for a climate policy that would provide a level playing field for all, including competitors outside Europe. “A policy is needed that prevents traffic and CO₂ emissions being shifted without a climate benefit (carbon leakage),” the aviation entities said. The trio is urging the EU Parliament and Council to improve the EU’s proposals as well as set up regulations for effective climate protection and to maintain the competitiveness of European hubs and airlines. Deutsche Lufthansa executive board chairman and CEO Carsten Spohr said: “The carbon emissions of aviation would be shifted and not reduced with the measures that are currently planned. As a result, Europe would become more dependent on third countries regarding transport policy. This cannot be the intention of policymakers.” The European Commission proposed three measures for aviation in its climate protection package, called ‘Fit for 55’. These measures include a kerosene tax, tightening emissions trading (ETS) and introducing an increasing blending mandate for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).<br/>
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The coronavirus pandemic has forced Japan's top two airlines to cut their planes in service to the lowest level in nearly a decade. Now, bitter rivals All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines are seeking strength in numbers of a different kind. ANA and Singapore Airlines have sought approval for a joint venture covering six countries, including Japan, Singapore and Australia. The bid is expected to receive a decision from regulators soon. Weakened by the long-running travel restrictions during the pandemic, airlines are hungry for such alliances. Building networks of international routes allows them to use planes more efficiently and improve the ease of connecting flights for travelers. Airline partnerships are seen as a determining factor in post-pandemic competition in the industry. "We want to recruit as many partners as possible and contribute capital if necessary," said Koji Shibata, who took the post of president of ANA parent ANA Holdings on Friday. For rival JAL, the anxiety was palpable. A JAL executive expressed concern that such an alliance would hold an 80% market share in the targeted routes. "They will gain in price leadership, which could hurt on competition," the executive said. JAL and Australia's Qantas had sought a joint venture, but the Australian antitrust commission stepped in to block the deal in September. The watchdog cited an over 80% market share in the affected flights as a reason behind the decision. Story has much more.<br/>