Airbus And Eight Industry Partners Move To Stop ETS Conflict

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- Airbus and eight industry partners have called upon Prime Ministers David Cameron (United Kingdom), Francois Fillon(France), Angela Merkel (Germany) and Mariano Rajoy (Spain), to take action to stop an escalating trade conflict with China and other countries opposing the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The eight industry partners are Air Berlin, Air France, British Airways, Iberia, Lufthansa, MTU Aero Engines, Safran and Virgin Atlantic. In a statement Monday, Airbus said, in their joint letter, the nine chief executive officers (CEOs) confirmed that as a response to European ETS, aviation related businesses are now faced with real concrete action with serious consequences to the European aviation business. "In many of the countries opposed to ETS, counter-measures and restrictions on European airlines are in preparation, such as special taxes and even traffic rights limitations. "In China, approval for US$12 billion worth of Airbus orders, have been suspended. Airbus estimates that this will jeopardise more than 1,000 Airbus jobs in Europe and at least another 1,000 in the supply chain," it added. The nine CEOs fully expect the list of suspensions, cancellations and punitive action to grow as other important markets continue to oppose ETS. They see the situation as becoming intolerable for the European aviation industry. Airbus said the CEOs reminded the governments that the aviation industry has always supported the need to increase the sustainability of worldwide aviation by reducing its environmental impact. The CEOs urged the Prime Ministers to use their influence in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council to find an acceptable solution as soon as possible and offered the industry's support in providing resources to make this possible. -- BERNAMA