The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is lobbying the European Commission to reduce regulation on the aviation sector over the next decade, at a time when Brussels is preparing to present a strategy that will set the legislative tone for air transport. 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, forecasting that this expenditure will reach 33 billion annually by 2050. IATA also called on the Commission to use the new strategy to meet the commitment to reduce administrative burdens by 25%.
One of the main points of friction 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 offsetting system of the International Civil Aviation Organization, instead of extending the EU ETS to more international routes. IATA's chief economist, Marie Owens Thomsen, stated that unilaterally extending European obligations to all international flights raises extraterritoriality issues.
The association also warned about the difficulties in producing sustainable aviation fuels, which are several times more expensive than conventional kerosene. European legislation requires that at least 2% of the fuel supplied at EU airports be SAF in 2025, a percentage that rises to 6% in 2030 and 70% in 2050. IATA calculates that the additional cost of these fuels already equates to approximately 2% of airlines' profit margins.
Another concern is the Entry/Exit System (EES), which will electronically register third-country nationals at the borders of the Schengen area. IATA warned about the persistence of technical and operational problems, noting that at some airports the number of passengers missing their connections has doubled. The organization demands sufficient staff at border controls, full system stability, and a pre-registration application that allows travelers to complete formalities before arriving at the border.
