As the European Union emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) expands to cover aircraft flying into and out of the EU starting in 2012, airlines based all around the world stand to feel the effects. Of course, U.S. regional airlines don’t fly into Europe, and until recently few of them spent much time considering the prospect of taxes on their carbon emissions. But as airlines face increasing public pressure to improve their environmental performance, the Regional Airline Association has responded with a campaign to educate its members about the potential implications of future regulation.
“You’ve got an Administration that’s heavily focused on environmental impacts, period, regardless of whether it’s aircraft, automobiles…it doesn’t matter,” RAA senior director of regulatory affairs Liam Connolly told AIN. “Not one of my airlines had a very comprehensive understanding of what its risk was in this area. At this moment in time they at least need a snapshot of where they stand.”
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