Isra-Mart srl: US airlines tell EU court emissions trading is illegal

The Air Transport Association (ATA) of America has told the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that the entry of aviation into the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme should be declared illegal.

According to the ATA, such unilateral action by a group of countries violates international law.

The US trade body brought the action to court on behalf of its members, which include US Airways, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

The ATA's testimony before the ECJ said any regulation of aviation emissions should be on a “global sectoral” basis.

“If the EU ETS regime implemented an international agreement agreed by third countries, as well as by the EU, we would not be here today,” the testimony continued.

“ATA challenges EU ETS because it is a unilateral measure, which has not been agreed by countries outside the EU, yet nevertheless applies EU law to third country carriers in third country airspace.”