Emissions trading u-turn won't cut air freight rates, say airlines

© Khunaspix Dreamstime.

Anyone hoping to see a further decline in air freight rates following the EU’s decision to ‘stop the clock’ on the Emissions Trading Scheme will be disappointed, say industry sources.

Yesterday, EU Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, announced that she would temporarily exempt non-EU flights from paying into the controversial scheme for one year, until year end 2013, after ICAO’s General Assembly. The first allowances were due in April 2013. The u-turn came about after an ICAO meeting which progressed ...