Airlines told to submit ETS reports "under protest"
The EU has named around 3,500 airlines worldwide which it said must follow its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) or risk being banned from Europe's airports.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said airlines should submit the EU emissions reports "under protest" and after seeking legal advice.
Airlines asked to submit their fuel and CO2 emissions monitoring plans have until the end of the month (Aug 31).
But EU-member states Germany, Italy, Sweden and the UK have postponed that deadline until September 30 and October 15.
A spokesperson for IATA said it had advised airlines on the list, particularly those from outside the EU, to consult their legal departments.
IATA said airlines have a right to submit the information "under protest" following objections by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
ICAO is said to have raised concerns over the EU's plans to apply ETS to non-EU carriers without its consent.
But IATA said airlines should comply with the EU's requirements to avoid penalties when the ETS comes into force in 2012.
Penalties for failing to conform to the scheme could include a ban on operating within Europe and restrictions on free emissions trading allowances.
The EU list names around 3,500 airlines which it said should reduce their impact on the environment.
From January 1 2012 a new law will come into effect forcing EU and non-EU airlines operating with Europe to limit emissions or face penalties.
Airlines have until the end of the month to submit plans detailing how they will go about monitoring their emissions from January 2010 onwards.
www.iata.org www.icao.int http://europa.eu/