EU ETS Coalition Letter to Congress

Commercial aviation helps drive more than 10M American jobs and 5 cents of every dollar of U.S. GDP
Commercial aviation drives more than $1 trillion per year in economic activity
In 2012, U.S. airlines moved more than 48,000 tons of cargo per day
In 2012, the value of a kilogram of U.S. merchandise exported by air averaged 121 times the value exported by sea
For every 100 airline jobs, some 360 are supported outside of the airline industry
Federal taxes constitute $61 – or 20% – of the price of a typical $300 domestic round-trip ticket
In 2011, U.S. airlines carried 16 percent more passengers and cargo using 10 percent less fuel than in 2000
Domestically, airlines drive 5% of economic activity but account for 2% of man-made GHG emissions
From 2000-2011, airlines reduced GHG emissions by 11% while transporting 16% more passengers and cargo
From 1975-2011, U.S. airlines and their partners reduced significant noise exposure by 99%
Commercial air travel is the safest form of intercity transportation in the United States
In the most recent decade, scheduled air service on U.S. airlines was seven times safer than in the 1970s
From 2000-2012, U.S. airlines improved the on-time arrival rate from 72.6% to 81.9%
From 2000-2012, U.S. airlines reduced the flight cancellation rate sharply from 3.30% to 1.29%
Airfares are a bargain: From 2000-2012, U.S. CPI rose 33% while average domestic fare rose just 14%
Adjusted for inflation, the average round-trip domestic airfare fell 15% from 2000
2007 domestic flight delays cost the United States approximately $31 billion
In 2012, the value of U.S. merchandise exported by air reached an all-time high of $427B
In 2012, U.S. exports of air-travel services reached an all-time high of $39.5B, driving a $5.1B trade surplus
In 2012, U.S. passenger and cargo airlines spent more than $50B on fuel, averaging 36% of operating expenses
In 2012, U.S. airlines posted the lowest annual rate of mishandled baggage ever recorded
FAA projects U.S. air travel demand to top 1 billion passengers in 2027
In 2012, US airlines flew 83.4 million passengers in scheduled international service - a record high
In 2012, the total value of merchandise exported from or imported to the United States by air exceeded $927 billion
In 2012, 7.15 teragrams of merchandise was exported from or imported to the United States by air

	EU ETS Coalition Letter to Congress
	PubZone1 Dear Senator: We write to urge you to support the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011. This legislation prohibits U.S. aviation operators from complying with the application of the European Union’s emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) to international aviation and directs the Administration to ensure U.S. operators are held harmless because the scheme violates U.S. sovereignty, international law and the Chicago Convention. The application of this scheme to aviation is opposed by the Obama Administration, aviation trade associations, airlines and other operators, travel service providers, manufacturers, labor unions, a bipartisan coalition in both bodies of Congress, and numerous foreign governments. In September 2010, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Triennial Assembly agreed to an action plan to address aviation emissions, including efficiency and emissions targets and principles to govern future activities. In doing so, ICAO recognized that unilateral emissions schemes like the EU ETS undermines the need for a global solution for a global industry. In December 2010, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) congratulated ICAO for progress to date on this issue and deferred to that body to continue to implement a global approach for aviation. In addition to ICAO work, the aviation industry itself has committed to measurable targets for efficiency and emissions improvements, including a 1.5 percent annual average fuel-efficiency gain through 2020, carbon-neutral growth from 2020, and a 50 percent net reduction in emissions by 2050. Aviation is the only industry in the world that has come together under clearly defined targets to reduce its dependence on oil, and these targets have been hailed by world leaders as the model for all industries. Fuel is the airlines’ and other operators’ highest and most volatile operating cost, giving us more incentive than any other industry to reduce fuel consumption. In reality, the EU ETS will increase costs in the industry significantly, which will reduce consumer demand, and will hamper airlines’ and other operators’ ability to invest in research and development and in new aircraft and equipment. The EU ETS is estimated to cost U.S. airlines $3.1 billion between 2012 and year-end 2020. All aircraft operators and airlines operating to and from the EU will be required to purchase allowances for their emissions over the entirety of each flight to, from and within Europe regardless of their citizenship. The EU has no authority to require EU States to reinvest any revenues from the ETS into aviation research and development or for other environmental purposes, meaning U.S. operators likely will directly subsidize the coffers of foreign governments. Furthermore, the EU ETS and other planned unilateral schemes and taxes will lead to double, triple or worse charges on the same emissions from aviation. Several EU states have imposed so-called “environmental” taxes on aviation, all of which have merely been cash-grabs by foreign governments from U.S. carriers and their passengers, and have not been invested in environmental programs. Airlines and other operators have operated with a razor-thin profit margin over the last 40 years and have lost more than $55 billion and 160,000 jobs since 9/11. A new 787-800 costs $185.2 million. If unilateral emissions schemes, such as the EU ETS, are allowed to proliferate, scarce capital in the aviation industry will be siphoned into foreign governments’ general funds inhibiting the industry’s ability to improve our mutual goal – fuel efficiency. Civil aviation is responsible for 5.2 percent of U.S. GDP and 10 million U.S. jobs, and is the catalyst for the U.S. and global economy. We urge you to support this important legislation to protect American jobs and to send the message to the EU that the U.S. government will not tolerate violations of its sovereignty and will ensure the EU ETS does not apply to U.S. aviation. Sincerely, Aerospace Industries Association Air Line Pilots Association Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Airlines for America American Society of Travel Agents Cargo Airline Association General Aviation Manufacturers Association Global Business Travel Association International Air Transport Association Interactive Travel Services Association National Air Carrier Association National Air Transportation Association National Business Aviation Association Regional Airline Association U.S. Travel Association PubZone2	A4A advocates measures to support aviation safety, security and well-being.