Arab Air Carriers Organisation condemns European Union carbon tax
2012 04 11
- Details
THE Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO), representing Arab commercial airlines, said the unilateral application of the European Union's carbon tax, also known as, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), violates the Chicago convention, which stipulates that the air transport relations between states need to be regulated by mutual consent and agreement.
The ETS will only attract conflicts and trade wars instead of helping the environment, says the AACO, reports the Khaleej Times.
Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker said the ETS was one of the most controversial subjects facing the global aviation industry today.
The AACO executive committee urged the EU to listen to voices around the world, calling on it to work with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on a global, rather than European-wide approach, said a Qatar Airways statement.
"There has to be a systematic approach to the implementation of any such scheme and, like many airlines around the world, we feel the European Union needs to take a step-by-step consultative approach before imposing programmes and penalising an aviation industry that plays a crucial role in driving economies," Mr Al Baker said.
The EU carbon tax will have far-reaching impact on the aviation industry in the Middle East. Passengers flying to Europe from the Gulf will have to pay more to offset the tax as Etihad Airways became the first in the region to introduce a surcharge last month.
The Abu Dhabi carrier increased fares by US$3 per passenger for flights into and out of Europe and $0.03 per kilogramme for cargo shipments, which came into effect from March 1.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
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