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A coalition of around twenty NGOs, including Transport & Environment (T&E), the Sasha Coalition, Carbon Market Watch, and Bellona, has urged the European Commission to extend the scope of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for aviation. In a letter sent on 21 April, the organisations call on the Commission to include flights to and from third countries in the EU ETS as part of the upcoming revision of the carbon market scheduled for July 2026. The NGOs argue that the current scope of the aviation ETS, limited to intra-European flight, significantly weakens the carbon price signal for the sector. They contend that including international flights would strengthen climate incentives and could generate substantial additional revenues for Member States, estimated at up to €14 billion by 2030.

However, this debate must be seen in the context of the existing regulatory framework. Under the revised EU ETS Directive, the EU currently applies a so-called “stop-the-clock” approach, under which the full application of the ETS to extra-European flights is suspended until the start of 2027. During this period, emissions from flights to and from third countries are primarily addressed through the global CORSIA mechanism established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The European Commission is required to assess by mid-2026 whether CORSIA delivers sufficient environmental ambition. Only on the basis of this assessment could it propose a legislative change to extend the EU ETS to international aviation. Any such extension would therefore not be automatic, but subject to a new proposal and agreement by Member States and the European Parliament.

Airlines have called for greater alignment between the EU ETS and CORSIA, warning against overlapping or conflicting systems that could undermine competitiveness and create distortions in international aviation markets.

From a CLECAT perspective, this discussion is highly relevant for the broader logistics chain. Air cargo relies on global connectivity, and unilateral extensions of EU carbon pricing to international flights could have implications for costs, routing decisions, and the competitiveness of European hubs. Ensuring a level playing field at global level remains essential, particularly in sectors that operate across international markets.

The upcoming ETS review in 2026 will therefore be a critical moment. It will determine whether the EU continues to rely on a multilateral framework for international aviation emissions or moves towards a broader regional application of its carbon pricing system, with potential consequences for the entire air logistics ecosystem.