Airlines return almost 103 million aviation allowances: European Commission

European Commission stated (26-Sep-2013) aircraft operators have returned 102,994,338 aviation allowances following the 'stop-the-clock' decision. Furthermore, 11,904,816 aviation allowances for flights covered by the decision were not allocated free of charge to aircraft operators which had not opened an account prior to the decision. As a result, 11,940,329 aviation allowances (15%) are to be auctioned in total for 2012. The 'stop-the-clock' decision, approved in Apr-2013, allowed airlines covered by the EU Emissions Trading System not to monitor and report emissions, or surrender allowances, for emissions from flights during 2012 to and from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and closely related countries and territories. Aircraft operators choosing to benefit from this decision had to either return, or to have not been issued, free allowances for flights covered by the decision. The volume of aviation allowances that was returned and the volume that was not issued adds up to around 63% of the initial amount of aviation allowances for 2012 that had been foreseen for free-of-charge allocation. The number of aviation allowances to be auctioned will be reduced by the same proportion. Aviation allowances for 2012 will be auctioned as aviation allowances valid for the 2013-2020 trading period. It remains to be decided whether these volumes will be auctioned in 2013 or 2014. The Commission and Member States will discuss the appropriate auction calendars with the auction platforms.[more - original PR] [more - original PR - List by Airline]