Release #12.41
September 22, 2012

ALPA Hails Senate Vote to Protect U.S. Airlines and Employees from EU’s Emissions Tax Scheme

WASHINGTON – The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), hails yesterday’s passage by the U.S. Senate of The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2012 (S.1956), which provides the U.S. Secretary of Transportation with the authority to protect U.S. aircraft operators and their employees from the market-distorting effects of the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme.

“Protecting U.S. airlines and their employees from this harmful tax has been an extremely high priority for ALPA because of the scheme’s potential to cost U.S. airlines $3.1 billion over the next eight years and threaten airline pilots’ jobs,” said Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA’s president. “ALPA thanks Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) for their steadfast leadership in advancing this bill.

“For years, ALPA has collaborated with the airlines and regulators to reduce aircraft emissions, and our industry has achieved remarkable results. We are committed to pursuing international guidelines through the International Civil Aviation Organization and to continuing to engage in work to advance high-tech engines and airframes, alternative fuels, and NextGen procedures. Labor and industry can work together and these efforts are the true solution to doing even more to reduce aircraft emissions.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing more than 52,000 pilots at 36 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

###

CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703/481-4440 or media@alpa.org