Association of European Airlines.(AIR TRANSPORT BRIEFING)(Brief article)

* The Association of European Airlines was predictably upset about the outcome of the vote by the European Parliament on the inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The AEA is not alone--the European plan received a cool reception at the recent ICAO Assembly. The AEA described the vote as "a massive blow to the viability and competitiveness of the European airline industry, a barely measureable step for the environment, and extremely bad news for European growth and cohesion". AEA secretary general Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus commented: "This vote reflects political compromises more than it does the-reality of the environmental challenge and aviation's real contribution to the issue--not to mention the fact that it is not based on any kind of impact assessment." The airlines are now pinning their hopes on the Council of Environmental Ministers, which is due to meet on 20 December.

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