US travel leaders have welcomed moves to bar the country’s airlines from joining the European Union’s emissions trading scheme.
The House of Representatives passed a ‘European Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011’ which prohibits US airlines from participating in the ETS.
The US Air Transport Association estimates the scheme would cost American carriers more than $3.1 billion between 2012 and 2020. US Travel Association president and chief executive Roger Dow said: “During these precarious economic times, anything done to inhibit travel will be a drag on the global economy and impede recovery.
“We join our U.S. travel industry partners – and numerous foreign countries – in supporting this bill.”
Other nations which have voiced opposition include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
Under the scheme, flights into or out of EU airports will be subject to the programme’s emissions cap and trade requirements, effectively levying an emissions tax on US airlines. The EU scheme is opposed by the Obama administration together with US aviation trade associations, airlines, manufacturers, unions and members of Congress.