Ryanair today (7 Dec) condemned the EU Commission’s failure to support the vote of the European Parliament to extend ETS (enviro taxes) onto long haul flights which account for over 54% of EU aviation emissions but deliver just 6% of EU passengers. As a result of this indefensible exemption for the richest passengers flying to/from the EU, it is Europe’s short haul passengers who will continue to pay an unfair burden of 100% ETS, while generating less than half of EU aviation emissions.

Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary said:

“Yet again the Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen has abandoned the environment and Europe’s ordinary families. The Commission’s failure to support the Parliament vote means that Europe’s most polluting flights (long-haul and transfer passengers) who create the majority of EU aviation emissions, will continue to be exempt from paying their fair share of ETS taxes. While the richest Americans, Europeans, and Asians on long haul flights pay zero enviro taxes, Europe’s most price sensitive passengers and their families travelling on short-haul flights, many to the peripheral Member States such as Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Malta, and Cyprus, and who have NO ALTERNATIVE to flying, are forced to pay all of Europe’s ETS taxes, while they generate less than half of EU aviation emissions. This is clearly unfair.

Yet again, Ursula von der Leyen and the EU Commission have let down Europe’s citizens and Europe’s environment.”