BRUSSELS – The European Regions Airline Association (ERAA) welcomes the overall direction of the European Commission’s proposal to revise the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), published on 17 July. The legislative text introduces important measures that align with the regional aviation sector’s ongoing commitment to a sustainable future, such as:
- Continued and increased support for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).
- An ongoing exemption protecting connectivity in the EU’s outermost regions.
- The recognition that ETS revenues should support hard-to-abate sectors like aviation.
- Stronger, more transparent reinvestment in aviation decarbonisation.
Despite these positive developments, ERAA believes that important challenges remain unaddressed.
Montserrat Barriga, ERAA’s Director General, said:
“The proposal risks unfairly locking regional airlines out of SAF-related benefits. The big missing piece here is an EU Book & Claim system that would allow regional airlines that fly from smaller and non-hub airports to claim benefits for purchased SAF, regardless of its physical location.”
ERAA urges policymakers to ensure that all airlines, regardless of size or location, have fair and flexible access to the benefits of SAF. Regional airlines must be able to decarbonise without being disadvantaged by where they operate. Ultimately, a sustainable future depends on turning policy ambition into practical solutions.
Moving forward, ERAA will continue to collaborate closely with our members, bringing our collective expertise to the upcoming legislative debates. We remain fully committed to working alongside EU policymakers to ensure this vital legislation successfully delivers on aviation environmental targets, economic competitiveness, and strong regional connectivity.