European airlines urge EU to pull back on climate policies

Europe’s airlines have called on the EU to cut back on its environmental rules, in a significant shift in tone for an industry struggling to decarbonise. The CEs of four of the region’s biggest carriers, including Ryanair and International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways, said EU carbon pricing rules for aviation should be eased and brought in line with a cheaper, global standard. “We need to cut and revise EU regulations quickly,” said Carsten Spohr, Lufthansa CE. The executives, who also included the head of Air France-KLM and spoke on behalf of 17 airlines, called on the bloc to review a rule that requires fuel suppliers at airports to provide a portion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for departing flights. Brussels has come under pressure from business groups to cut back its sustainability agenda to help European companies become more competitive, particularly as President Donald Trump launches a deregulation drive in the US. The bloc’s economic competitiveness tsar last month suggested the EU was prepared to water down some of its green policies to placate the bloc’s industry. Speaking at a meeting of trade body Airlines for Europe in Brussels, the CEs insisted they remained committed to a long-term target of contributing net zero new carbon emissions to the atmosphere by 2050. However, they said the EU should delay rules that require fuel companies to provide airlines with an increasing amount of SAF each year. The requirement is for airlines to use 2% this year, and rises to 6% by 2030. These fuels — which are typically made from organic material, such as used cooking oil or crops — can reduce the net carbon emissions from flying by about 70%. But they are far more expensive than fossil fuels and in short supply. “Unless action is taken now, the only realistic solution is to move the 2030 SAF mandate date to the right,” said Luis Gallego, CE of IAG.<br/>