T&E, Greenpeace and 10+ Organisations Call on the EU to Maintain the Law Promoting Alternatives to Short-Haul Flights

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T&E, Greenpeace and a coalition of 12 other environmental organisations asks the European Commission to keep article 20 in the EU Air Services Regulation (ASR).

Two years ago, the European Commission’s implementing decision (EU) 2022/2358 confirmed the French measure establishing a limitation on the exercise of traffic rights due to serious environmental problems. Article 20 of the EU Air Services Regulation is playing a needed role in avoiding projected emissions growth in the aviation sector, in this critical decade for action.

However in the run-up to the revision of the Air Services Regulation, industry pressure is mounting to severely limit the scope of application of Article 20.

The coalition call upon the European Commission to be coherent in its pursuit of sustainable mobility, maintaining a robust scope for Article 20 in the Air Services Regulation, for three strong reasons:

• Further measures to avoid emissions and limit uncontrolled growth are necessary. Targeted flight limitations provide an effective and swift tool for CO₂ mitigation needed to fulfil EU and national targets.
• A coherent approach to sustainable connectivity must reflect both air and rail. Limiting flights where cleaner transport modes provide effective levels of service contributes to sustainable connectivity, as well as wise use of public resources and infrastructure.
• Citizens’ expectations and democratic processes must be respected. In France and now in Spain, citizens’ initiatives and parliaments identified limitations as an short-term action.

Read the letter: TE Letter EU Air Services Regulation Article 20

Article from T&E.