The International Air Transport Association (IATA) asked the European Commission to reduce the regulation imposed on the aviation sector for the next decade, as Brussels prepares to present a new strategy for the sector. The organization, which represents more than 370 airlines responsible for approximately 85% of global air traffic, estimated that airlines spent around 9.9 billion euros in 2024 to comply with European legislation, predicting that this expenditure will reach 33 billion annually by 2050.
One of the main points of contention is the emissions trading system (ETS), which from this year has completely eliminated the free allocation of emission allowances to aviation. IATA argues that the EU should prioritize CORSIA, the global emissions offset system of the International Civil Aviation Organization, instead of extending the European ETS to more international routes, warning that unilaterally extending European obligations to all international flights raises extraterritoriality issues.
The association also called for increased production of sustainable aviation fuels, which cost several times more than conventional kerosene. European legislation requires that at least 2% of the fuel supplied at EU airports be SAF since 2025, a percentage that increases to 6% in 2030 and to 70% in 2050. IATA warns that limited production capacity and high renewable energy prices in Europe make investment difficult.
Another concern is the Entry/Exit System (EES), which electronically records third-country citizens crossing the borders of the Schengen area. IATA warned of persistent technical and operational problems, noting that at some airports the number of passengers missing their connections has doubled, considering that technology has become part of the problem rather than part of the solution.
