The aviation sector demanded on Thursday that the European Union limit the application of the emissions trading system (ETS), simplify climate requirements, and resolve problems with the new border control system. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents more than 370 airlines responsible for approximately 85% of global air traffic, estimated that airlines spent approximately 9.9 billion euros in 2024 to comply with European legislation, projecting this expenditure will reach 33 billion annually by 2050.
As the European Commission prepares to present a strategy that will set the legislative tone for air transport over the next decade, IATA called on the EU to seize the opportunity to fulfill its commitment to reduce administrative burdens by 25%. The organization noted that aviation supports approximately 15 million jobs, accounts for 4.6% of European GDP, and has 766 commercial airports.
One of the main points of contention is the 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 offsetting system of the International Civil Aviation Organization, rather than extending the European ETS to more international routes, noting that unilaterally extending European obligations to all international flights raises extraterritoriality issues.
The association also requested increased production of sustainable aviation fuels, which cost several times more than conventional kerosene, and warned about the persistence of technical and operational problems with the Entry/Exit System, which electronically records third-country citizens crossing the borders of the Schengen area. IATA demands sufficient personnel at border controls, full system stability, and a pre-registration application that allows procedures to be completed before arriving at the border.
