The review aims “to make sure that we do have effective carbon pricing for the full share of EU emissions,” said Polona Gregorin, head of unit for transport at the Commission’s climate department.
Speaking at a conference with aviation lobbyists, Gregorin warned that the ETS could be extended to “departing flights,” meaning all journeys from Europe, regardless of destination.
According to Transport & Environment, if the ETS had applied to all departing flights last year, total revenues for the EU and its member countries could have reached €12.7 billion, roughly three times what was collected from the aviation sector in 2025.
The Commission’s review seeks to “apply an effective price signal to the EU’s fair share of international aviation emissions for extra-European flights,” according to a slide shown during Gregorin’s presentation.
The move would also affect private jet traffic, the Commission said the same day environmental groups called for restrictions on business aviation to save fuel amid the supply crisis sparked by the war in the Middle East.
Any carbon pricing extension would apply to both EU and non-EU carriers. “An important principle … [is] to ensure a level playing field between operators, meaning that on the same routes all operators — European, non-European — are treated equally,” Gregorin said.
