Leading European airlines are calling on the European Union to scale back its environmental regulations, marking a shift in the industry’s approach to climate policy. At a meeting of the trade body Airlines for Europe (A4E) in Brussels, chief executives from major carriers—including Ryanair, British Airways parent company International Airlines Group (IAG), Lufthansa, and Air France-KLM—demanded revisions to EU rules on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and carbon pricing.
According to the Financial Times, the airline industry is seeking relief from mandates that require fuel suppliers to provide a growing share of SAF at EU airports. Currently set at 2% in 2024, this requirement will rise to 6% by 2030. Airlines argue that these bio-based fuels—made from materials such as used cooking oil or crops—are both costly and in limited supply, making compliance challenging.
Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa, voiced the airline industry’s frustration, stating, “We need to cut and revise EU regulations quickly.” He and other industry leaders argued that the SAF mandate should be postponed, with IAG CEO Luis Gallego calling for a delay beyond 2030.
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s outspoken chief executive, placed blame on oil companies for failing to produce enough SAF, saying, “If the supply is not there, you can’t buy it—that’s simple economics 101.” He also predicted that the UK, which has a separate but stricter SAF mandate requiring 10% by 2030, would be forced to roll back its policy as well.
The executives also took aim at the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), which requires industries to purchase allowances to cover their carbon emissions. Instead, they urged the EU to align with Corsia, a global carbon offsetting system that imposes lower costs on airlines. O’Leary argued that shifting to Corsia would “create a level playing field for consumers here in Europe.”
However, a 2021 unpublished EU report, cited by the Financial Times, warned that Corsia could be ineffective, poorly enforced, and risk “undermining” EU climate policies.
Environmental groups have condemned the airlines’ demands, accusing them of trying to weaken crucial climate measures. Diane Vitry, aviation director at Transport and Environment, criticized the industry for “jumping on an anti-green trend,” noting that many consumers are increasingly prioritizing sustainable travel options.
She further argued that Corsia provides “cheap offsets” that fail to put an adequate price on CO₂ emissions.
Despite growing pressure for sustainability, airlines insist that technological and economic realities make current climate targets unattainable. Spohr pointed to setbacks in alternative aviation technologies, including Airbus delaying its hydrogen-powered aircraft plans and fuel companies shifting back to fossil fuel production.
“Things are changing in the debate and in terms of engineering decisions,” Spohr said. “Engineers are stopping work on hydrogen and have moved from SAF production to fossil fuel production—that will have an impact on reaching net zero. We owe [consumers] a more honest debate on this.”
