European Commission outlines the EU framework for reducing aviation emissions

The European Commission has published an updated overview describing the EU's regulatory framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from aviation.

The framework combines market-based measures, sustainable aviation fuel requirements and emissions monitoring to support the decarbonisation of the aviation sector.

EU ETS continues to apply to intra-European aviation, with free allocation of aviation allowances being fully phased out from 2026, increasing the financial incentive to reduce emissions.

For international flights outside the EU ETS scope, CORSIA applies through the EU ETS Directive for eligible routes, ensuring consistency with ICAO requirements while maintaining EU climate objectives.

ReFuelEU Aviation complements EU ETS by requiring an increasing share of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to be supplied at Union airports and introducing obligations to reduce fuel tankering.

The Commission is also expanding the regulatory framework to include the monitoring, reporting and verification of non-CO₂ aviation effects, recognising that aviation's climate impact extends beyond carbon dioxide emissions.

The Commission confirms that it will assess in 2026 whether CORSIA sufficiently contributes to achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Depending on the outcome, the Commission may propose extending the geographical scope of the EU ETS to include additional international departing flights.

The publication demonstrates that future aviation compliance will increasingly require operators to manage multiple interconnected regulatory obligations rather than treating EU ETS, CORSIA and ReFuelEU Aviation as separate compliance programmes.