Association of European Airlines (AEA) the trade body representing 31 major European airlines issued a condemnation today after the the environment, public health and food safety (ENVI) committee of the European Parliament (EP) rejected this afternoon, the provisional trilogue agreement on how to amend the scope of the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) for aviation. 

The deal was reached on 4 March after negotiations between the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission. This file will now be put to a vote at the EP’s plenary session in April. 

"ENVI today missed the chance to provide clarity on the way forward for the aviation ETS. If the trilogue agreement is not formally adopted before 30 April, the full ETS would be applicable.

"Given the international controversy around the aviation ETS that we have witnessed during the past years, we believe that a full ETS is not a realistic option and that it would have a negative impact on European airlines, their operations and their employees.

"Moreover, this move would put at risk the agreement reached during the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Assembly last year and undermine the efforts to reach a global deal on reducing emissions from international aviation."

In a press statement AEA called upon the Plenary of the  European Parliament to endorse the trilogue outcome.