Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has broken an informal consensus among airlines against the extension of a European Union emissions charge to airlines, but insists any levy must be accompanied by a trading scheme. SAS says it is supporting carbon dioxide (CO2) taxation to push legislators to define a system under which airlines could aid heavier polluters by buying emission "credits".
The EU greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme comes into force for heavy industry next January, and is due to apply to aviation from 2008, but there has been opposition from airline groups, which claim it would put European carriers at a disadvantage. British Airways and KLM have admitted to being resigned to the charge, but have shied away from endorsing it. Hans Ollongren, SAS senior vice-president for public affairs, says: "We cannot avoid a levy at some stage, so it is academic to compare charges with the status quo."
JUSTIN WASTNAGE / STOCKHOLM
Source: Flight International
