Croatia Airlines joins alliance against EU aviation climate plans

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An alliance of airlines and airports has been formed calling for modifications to the European Union's planned climate change legislation, arguing it will make them less competitive with non-European rivals. The alliance, whose nearly twenty members include Croatia Airlines, as well as all Lufthansa subsidiaries, Air France - KLM and major airports such as Frankfurt and Amsterdam's Schiphol, argue that the European Union plans for stricter rules on CO2 emissions and the use of synthetic fuel blends, as well as the implementation of a kerosene tax, are unfeasible. The alliance believes long haul flights via non-European hubs would not be subjected to the same associated costs, leading to a potential shift in business to such carriers. Furthermore, it has rejected the kerosene tax outright and proposes that the environmental protection surcharge be based on the entire flight route, not just feeder flights bringing passengers from the EU to international hubs such as Istanbul or Dubai. However, in principle, the alliance is in favour of the EU's "Fit for 55" climate package, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.