Global emissions deal a priority for airlines at UN aviation assembly

A global emissions deal is key for airlines ahead of a U.N. aviation gathering next week, despite skepticism that the industry can hit its own environmental targets, the head of trade body IATA told reporters on Wednesday.

The U.N. CORSIA deal was reached in 2016 to cap rising emissions from international flights through airlines' purchase of carbon credits and use of green jet fuel. But with insufficient credits available and fuel from materials like used cooking oil in short supply, IATA has cast doubt on a U.N. goal of achieving a 5% reduction in industry emissions by 2030.

Still, reducing pollution from planes remains a goal, even though environmental protection is not a priority for U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

"I think the changing geopolitical environment may have some short-term impact on how people view these issues," International Air Transport Association director general Willie Walsh said.

"But the feedback we get consistently from the majority, the vast majority of players in the industry is that they recognize that our industry must play its part.”

During the International Civil Aviation Organization's triennial assembly, which runs from Sept 23 to October 3, regulators from 193 countries will discuss issues including the environment, raising pilot retirement age from 65 to 67 and safety concerns over Global Navigation Satellite System radio frequency interference in parts of Europe. 

Countries will decide whether Russia gets enough votes to return as part of ICAO's 36-member council after failing to clinch enough support in 2022 following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Walsh said the Trump administration is “quite right” to drop a plan by former President Joe Biden to require airlines to pay passengers cash compensation when U.S. flight disruptions are caused by carriers.

He added that a recent Trump administration order for Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico to end a joint venture, following U.S. concerns over Mexico violating bilateral air agreements, was a “natural progression of geopolitical issues.”

The Department of Transportation alleges Mexico violated a bilateral air agreement by slashing slots for passenger flights and forcing all-cargo carriers to relocate operations.

However, Walsh cautioned that airline joint ventures, which let carriers coordinate scheduling, pricing and capacity decisions, improve services for consumers.

"I think we've got to separate out the consumer impact of these joint ventures from the political impact,” he said.