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the UK joined the campaign in March. However, a leading airport
source said: “Airlines need to be careful what they wish for. Reforming the charging system might not work in the airlines’ favour.” Heathrow charges are
regulated by the CAA, and the source acknowledged: “Heathrow is the most expensive airport in the world by charges. But it’s also the most constrained airport [and] the only wholly private major airport.” The source noted the
CAA takes account of “what Heathrow is allowed to charge and what the airlines argue [for] and always ends up in the middle”, adding: “The airlines are making a case, and doing so very strongly, about how a third runway would be paid for. But why would a review come down on the side of the airlines?” All investment in Heathrow
expansion would be private money – “the government would not be spending a penny” – the source pointed out, adding: “If investors are going to take on the costs, they’re going to recoup it in charges. We would say the user should pay, and airlines are going to pass [the costs] on to customers.” He pointed out charges on
retail outlets and parking and drop-off charges could also increase and said: “We’re still at a very early stage with this. The CAA will make a decision. We expect some compromise. We don’t think there will be massive change at this stage. “[But] if airlines are worried
about the cost of flying from Heathrow, they could fly from somewhere else.”
MEPs back gradual rollout of digital Entry-Exit System
MEPs endorsed a gradual rollout of the EU’s digital Entry-Exit System last week. However, the EC has still to decide when to begin a planned 180-day rollout. The EES will require all non-EU
visitors to register biometric data including photos and fingerprints at the EU border. EU home affairs ministers
endorsed a revised timeline for
introducing the system in March, noting it’s “expected to become operational in October 2025” with a “progressive start” over six months. They suggested at least 10% of border crossings be registered from the first day, 50% by day 90, and 100% within 180 days. The Civil Liberties Committee
of MEPs agreed “a draft position” on the launch last week but proposed that member states be free to launch gradually or “all at once”. They also recommended that “neither the start nor end of the rollout coincide with peak travel seasons, ie June-August and
Zurich airport
December-February”. That would make a start date in October or November essential. However, the proposals still require confirmation by Parliament and member states before the EC will confirm the date.
Eco lobby group calls for UK’s ETS to be extended
Ian Taylor
CO2 emissions from UK-departing flights are forecast to exceed 2019 levels this year, making London a European emissions “hotspot”, according to a report by transport and environment group T&E. It highlights the fact that six of the
10 “most-polluting” routes in Europe depart from London, with flights to New York topping the list and departures to Dubai and Singapore in second and third place. Flights from London to Los
Angeles, Doha and Hong Kong also appear in the top 10, with no other airport in Europe appearing more than once. The report by Brussels-based T&E on UK aviation emissions notes almost one million flights departed UK airports last year, releasing 34.1 million tonnes of CO2 – 95% of the emissions in 2019 – and it argues the UK emissions trading scheme
46 1 MAY 2025 Gatwick
fuel (SAF) production in the UK. In Europe, airlines paid an
estimated £2.7 billion in ETS charges last year as emissions hit 98% of the 2019 level. However, T&E estimates the EU ETS would have raised £6.5 billion (€7.5 billion) by eliminating allowances and extending the scheme to flights beyond Europe. Anna Krajinska, T&E UK
(ETS) “is failing to regulate” these. It suggests the government
could raise “millions in revenues” by extending the ETS, which only applies to domestic flights and those to the European Economic Area, excluding 83% of emissions. T&E calculates airlines paid
£210 million under the UK ETS last year and extending the scheme would increase this to £1.2 billion, saying some of the revenue could be used “to kick-start” sustainable aviation
director, urged the government to extend the scope of the UK scheme “to ensure airlines pay the true cost of their pollution and raise badly needed revenue”. T&E also called for non-CO2
impacts on climate to be incorporated into the UK ETS, suggesting the scheme has fallen behind the EU’s since Brexit. It noted “the EU has begun
phasing out free allowances” and an EU review of the scheme in 2026 could “expand the scope to all departing flights”, and urged the UK to “consider a similar revision”.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURES: Shutterstock/William Perugini, Michael Derrer Fuchs,
PeopleImages.com/Yuri A, Tiwaporn Khemwatcharalerd
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