ERA 2008: ‘Front line’ issues turn more intense
European Regions Airline Association members face three “front-line” issues as they prepare for their annual general assembly in Manchester, England, this

European Regions Airline Association members face three “front-line” issues as they prepare for their annual general assembly in Manchester, England, this month: the environment, the so-called Single European Sky (SES) and safety regulation. Director-general Mike Ambrose concedes that the industry’s concerns haven’t changed much over the past year, but the scrutiny on these topics has become “more intense” since the last general assembly.

The inclusion of aviation in the “Mother Directive” legislation covering the emissions trading scheme (ETS) for other industries is “all but agreed” and awaits only the European Commission’s rubber stamp, Ambrose told AIN last month. “I think it is inescapable that Europeans have to abide by the ETS, even though Brazil, China, the U.S. and even Russia do not expect to accept emissions-trading applied to their operations,” he said.