IATA advises airlines to make ETS submissions 'under protest'

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has advised carriers falling within the scope of the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme to submit their first monitoring and reporting plans "under protest," according to industry sources. The deadline for airlines to submit their emissions monitoring plan is by 31 August or 30 September/15 October for those whose administering EU member state (UK, Sweden, Germany and Italy) postponed the submission date.

"We advised, particularly non-EU airlines, to consult their legal department and submit information 'under protest' on the grounds that most ICAO member states expressed concern about the European Union's intention to apply this ETS outside its territory without seeking their consent first," an IATA spokesperson said. "Some states claim the EU ETS also constitutes a violation of the Chicago Convention of 1944."

IATA says it is advising carriers to comply with the current ETS submission requirements to avoid getting penalized for noncompliance when airlines become part of the scheme in 2012. Penalties could include a ban on flying into Europe.

 The US Air Transport Association apparently is taking a similar position.