EU warns dirty airlines to clean up or face ban

Over 3,500 airlines and business jet operators globally will have to sign up to the new European Union Emissions Trading Scheme by 2012 or face either financial penalties or a ban, the EU has warned.

In its official gazette, the EU has published a list of operators, which includes the likes of Lufthansa, Qantas, KLM, Emirates and United, that could be penalised unless they comply.

The list in the Official Journal of the European Union also includes hundreds of private business jet operators, as well as European airplane manufacturers Airbus and Dassault.

Under the programme, operators will have to submit plans for monitoring their emissions by January 2010.

“Aviation has been included into the emissions trading scheme and this list is part of a directive that was adopted in 2008 to bring the aviation sector into that scheme,” EU spokeswoman Katharina von Schnurbein said.

The EU’s list of airlines that must take part in the programme has been controversial because, aside from European operators, it also includes scores of airlines from other parts of the world flying into Europe.

The International Air Transport Association said airlines should submit their EU emission reports “under protest” but should first consult their legal departments.

It said airlines should comply with the EU’s requirements to avoid being penalised when the European Emissions Trading Scheme comes into force in 2012.