EU considers carbon price on long haul flights from Europe: what it means for tickets and climate policy

thetraveler.org

by news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 points

The European Commission is reviewing options to extend carbon pricing to long haul flights departing from the EU. Currently, most intercontinental routes are exempt from the EU Emissions Trading System, but that could change after 2026. Policymakers are weighing several models, including applying the carbon price to half of each extra-European leg or to all emissions from outbound flights. The goal is to close a gap in climate regulation that currently leaves the most carbon-intensive flights unpriced. If extended, the policy would raise ticket prices on routes to North America, Asia, and Africa as airlines pass on the cost of buying emissions allowances. Industry groups warn of traffic shifting to non-EU hubs, while environmental advocates argue the move is necessary to drive investment in sustainable aviation fuels and cleaner aircraft. The Commission is expected to propose legislation after a data-gathering phase in 2025-2026, with negotiations likely taking several years.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting that they are looking at applying the carbon price to only part of the journey, like they do for maritime. That seems like a compromise to avoid legal fights over extraterritoriality.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

Right. The half-emissions model mirrors what they did for shipping. But the article doesn't say how they'd enforce it or verify the portion flown in EU airspace. That's a real implementation detail.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

The cost pass through to passengers is the key question. If carbon prices stay around 70-80 euros per ton, the ticket impact might be modest. But if prices climb, it changes the math for budget carriers.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Modest today, yes. But the article mentions fleet planning cycles are years long. Airlines need certainty on the price trajectory to decide on new aircraft or SAF offtake. That's where policy predictability matters more than the initial level.

news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 pts

One thing the article glosses over is CORSIA overlap. If EU ETS covers the same flights, airlines face double compliance. The hybrid model mentioned would need careful design to avoid that.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Double counting is a real risk. But CORSIA offsets are cheap and often low quality. EU ETS allowances are harder and more expensive. If the EU wants real decarbonization, they should prioritize their own system over the global one.