Isra-Mart srl: EU Emissions Trading Scheme Puts U.S. Airline Industry Jobs at Risk

www.isra-mart.com

The Airline Pilots Association’s expressed concerns in a statement Tuesday to the U.S. House of Representatives on the European Union’s Emission’s Trading Scheme (ETS).

Captain Lee Moak, President of The Airline Pilots Association, spoke on behalf of 53,000 pilot members who fly for 39 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. The President put it quite simply in stating “The EU ETS is a Job Killer.”

He referred to the EU ETS as “no more than a thinly disguised tax on commercial aviation, the proceeds of which may well accrue to the treasuries of foreign governments instead of being used in a meaningful way to reduce GHG emissions.” Moak added, “It is our strong contention that the industry already pays more than its fair share of taxes.”

The industry’s non-income tax burden has grown from $3.7 billion in 1993 to approximately $17 billion now, reports the ATA.

The Federal Aviation Administration is a vital part of the nation’s economy. The numbers speak for themselves as aviation generates $1.3 trillion in economic activity each year, is responsible for more than 5 percent of U.S. gross domestic product and employs 11 million people.

Imposed EU ETS taxes will cost more American jobs, at a time in which job creation is critical to the nation.

“The airlines simply cannot afford any new taxes and we must do all that we can to keep from losing any more jobs in this industy,” said Moak.