British Airways (BA) CEO Willie Walsh has delivered an uncompromising message at this week’s Aviation & Environment Summit in Geneva, warning delegates that it is critical that a workable emissions trading scheme (ETS) is implemented.
He reiterated BA’s support for the planned European Union (EU) ETS and told the audience that the plan was essential because in the near-term traffic-growth would outstrip any emissions reductions through technical and operational means.
Walsh said: “Ultimately we need technical breakthroughs. But in the near-term emissions growth will outweigh savings, which is why we need a workable ETS.
“It is hard to exaggerate the importance of emissions trading. For the EU this is critically important. It allows the EU to show to the world that emissions trading can work.
“If we can show that emissions trading works within Europe we have a much better chance of showing the US and Asia that this is the best way for them too.
“It is so important that this scheme, on which so much depends, gets off to a good start.”
But he also warned the EU that it had to ensure that European carriers were not disadvantaged compared to non-EU airlines.
“I accept that the EU is in a position to lead but we must avoid making the system so burdensome that EU airlines give away too much to competitors,” he said.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
Source: Flight International
