| The EU airlines will soon be in the throes of what | | | | result in lowering of ticket prices. |
| can be considered as an integral factor in | | | | When it comes to controlling the emission of |
| determining their bottom line. EU's Emission | | | | carbon and on a bigger perspective, reduce the |
| Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is slated to include the | | | | green house gases, the emissions trading program |
| airline industry with effect from 2012 and flights | | | | should not be confined to the airlines in the civil |
| operating to, from and within the European Union | | | | aviation industry. |
| will benefit from this scheme. | | | | The travel agents and tour operators play an |
| As per this program, air carriers exceeding their | | | | important role as they act as an interface |
| prescribed quota of emission can either buy | | | | between the travellers and the airlines. The travel |
| carbon credits from organizations legitimized to sell | | | | agents as a part of their daily operations |
| them or make concerted efforts to reduce | | | | recommend, plan and book flights and holidays for |
| emissions by investing in sophisticated machinery. | | | | a number of travellers. |
| The total emissions by an air carrier must still | | | | In what would for sure be considered as a |
| remain within the stipulated cap as mandated by | | | | welcoming step by the travel agents, airlines and |
| the government. | | | | environment friendly people and organisations |
| Those air carriers who have not exceeded their | | | | alike, the regulatory bodies such as the IATA, |
| quota of emissions can benefit by transferring | | | | ABTA, and ICAO etc should reward those travel |
| these carbon credits on to their balance sheets. | | | | agents who book higher number of tickets on |
| One carbon credit is equivalent to one ton of | | | | more fuel efficient airlines, like southalltravel.co.uk, |
| carbon dioxide, or in some markets, carbon | | | | one of the leading travel agencies in the UK. |
| dioxide equivalent gases. Carbon credits create an | | | | The airlines could be provided ratings based upon |
| environment for lowering greenhouse emissions | | | | their carbon emissions, much similar to the |
| by giving a fiscal value to the cost of polluting the | | | | European Union (EU) energy rating label which is |
| air. By allowing carbon credits to be bought and | | | | seen on all the white goods that reveals the |
| sold, air carriers can seek out the most | | | | appliances' exact energy consumption and its |
| cost-effective way of reducing their emissions, | | | | energy efficiency rating. |
| either by investing in new aircraft engines or by | | | | Although, largely criticised by many commercial |
| purchasing credits from another operator who | | | | quarters directly or indirectly affected by the |
| already has excess 'capacity' owing to its fuel | | | | scheme, there is a unanimous opinion and hope by |
| efficient practices. The prime motive behind this | | | | the participating nations that emission trading |
| scheme is to enable the least polluting players to | | | | scheme will accelerate moves to a low carbon |
| win. They can pass on the full cost of carbon | | | | economy as envisioned by the European Union. |
| credits gained on to their customers which will | | | | |