Free Trial

Air Finance Journal
Search advanced search
Air Finance Journal Copying and distributing are prohibited without permission of the publisher

Feature: What The EU ETS Means For Aircraft Operators

28 May 2010

With the European Emissions Trading Scheme coming into effect in the next two years, aircraft operators have to start planning now.

Read more: European Emissions Trading Scheme EU ETS aircraft operators

Directive 2008/101/EC of the European Parliament has 39 notes in its preamble spanning over five pages before the text of the directive even begins all pointing to the need to mitigate the negative effects of aviation on the environment.

After two years of a difficult operating environment and faced with profitability issues, airlines operating in Europe are less than two years from taking on another financial burden: the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).

The scheme, passed in 2008, will come into full effect in 2012. It will impose a cap on aircraft emissions in EU airspace and place financial burdens on aircraft operators that exceed their allowance. The costs to operators, however, are greater than those directly associated with purchasing credits needed to offset excessive emissions. With these challenges ahead, it is critical for airlines operating in the EU to minimize costs where they can.

 


Quote

“At the current pricing it will become attractive again to issue Ex-Im-guaranteed bonds. This will help stabilize and drive pricing down from where it is now.”

Kostya Zolotusky, managing director, capital markets, Boeing Capital, says about the price of export credit.

Upcoming Events