Hundreds Of Private Jets To Be Exempt From EU Aviation Emissions Trading Plan - Times Of London

[hatrack]

Hundreds of small private jets will be exempt from a European scheme designed to make the aviation industry pay for the environmental damage it causes. The European Commission announced plans yesterday to make airlines buy permits to cover their carbon dioxide emissions. The scheme will add up to €9 (£6) to the cost of a flight within Europe and up to €40 to longer trips, with the cost varying according to the market price of the permits.

The scheme will be introduced for flights within the European Union in 2011 and be extended to all arrivals and departures at European airports the next year. But the commission added that very light private jets, small propeller-driven aircraft and government aircraft would not be included.

The announcement was welcomed by air taxi operators, who are investing heavily in small jets to meet rapidly growing demand for private flights. More than 300 small jets are to be delivered to European operators by 2011. JetBird, which has placed an order for 100 Phenom four-seat jets, said that the exemption would help to accelerate the expansion of air taxi companies.

Paul Geaney, the managing director of JetBird, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic news for us. Emissions trading was an additional cost we had assumed in our business which we can now take out.” But he said that JetBird recognised its environmental responsibilities and was planning a private scheme to allow customers to offset their carbon emissions by paying for projects that improved energy efficiency.

EDIT

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2513422,00.html

Hmm . . . would anyone on the board be willing to take a wild guess as to what will happen to the number of small jets?

[flyingfysh]

1. it's important to exempt the super-rich from any inconvenience

even if the result is to damage the environment more.
:sarcasm:

[Porcupine]

2. Can we exempt backpack SAM's from regulation too?

.