ATA Offers Emissions Alternative

In the wake of European Parliament approval October 24 of the final emissions trading legislation, Air Transport Association President James May offered three solutions being pursued vigorously by ATA member airlines. Speaking before the European Aviation Club in Brussels, May emphasized the vital connection between energy and environmental issues and the importance of addressing these issues together.
“First, governments must recognize that policies that siphon money out of aviation are counterproductive,” he said. “Airlines should not be prevented from reinvesting in ever-improving technologies that reduce emissions. Second, governments and politicians have dilly-dallied for too long in considering new air traffic management systems; they should get on with the task of building them. And third, we must all recognize the need for developing alternative fuels, a task that demands the development of comprehensive policies and genuine public, private and academic partnerships.”