Brussels, 17 July 2026 – The Commission has opted to extend a regional system to a global problem, while there is still no guarantee that the money that passengers pay for ETS is reinvested into decarbonising aviation.

“Europe’s priority should be bringing down the cost of ETS and the cost of SAF, with every cent raised through ETS reinvested in reducing aviation emissions,” stated Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of Airlines for Europe (A4E). “The EU needs to put ETS money passengers pay where its climate and competitiveness policies are; today’s reform doesn’t comprehensively deliver that.”

A4E members are committed to decarbonising. Delivering that ambition requires policies that help manage the cost and make sure Europeans can continue to benefit from the same levels of connectivity and accessibility of air travel.

ENDS

A4E Media Contact:

Ben Kennard
Director of Communications, A4E
+32 (0) 485 88 66 44
Ben.kennard@a4e.eu

About Airlines for Europe (A4E)

Airlines for Europe (A4E) is Europe’s largest airline association. Based in Brussels, A4E works with policymakers to ensure aviation policy continues to connect Europeans with the world in a safe, competitive and sustainable manner. With a modern fleet of over 3,800 aircraft, A4E airlines carried over 798 million passengers in 2025 and served over 2,700 destinations across Europe and the wider world. Each year, A4E members transport around 4 million tonnes of vital goods and equipment either by freighters or passenger aircraft.