Airlines Must Submit Paperwork Outlining Reductions In CO2 By January

Airlines may be required to obtain permits regarding their CO2 emissions to land at European airports, and could face problems flying in European airspace after 2012 unless they join the EU's carbon trading scheme.

The online publication EUObserver reports that some 4000 companies, which included many of the worlds most popular airlines and business jet makers, were listed in an EU publication as companies that must work to reduce their carbon emissions. They included Qantas, United, and KLM Airlines, as well as Dassault, Airbus, and even some of the bloc's national air forces.

The EU adopted legislation in January that requires companies to reduce their CO2 emissions to three percent under 2005 levels by 2012, and 5 percent by 2013.

Companies have until January of next year to submit paperwork outlining their emission reduction plans. If they do, they will receive 85 percent credit of their emissions credits free for the next two years.

Although a strict reading of the legislation indicates airlines would have difficulty landing at EU member country airports without the permits, industry analysts say that is an unlikely scenario.

The International Air Transport Association and the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization both strongly opposed the measure.

FMI: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/aviation_en.htm, http://www.icao.int/