European shipowners and airlines have jointly called on the European Commission to channel revenues generated through the EU emissions trading system (ETS) back into the decarbonisation of their respective sectors, warning that the current framework is failing to support the transition to sustainable fuels.
The European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and Airlines for Europe (A4E) issued a joint statement on 22 June, urging the Commission to require EU member states to earmark at least a portion of their ETS revenues for the uptake and availability of sustainable fuels for shipping and aviation, and to top up existing EU mechanisms with national ETS revenues.
According to the two organisations, shipping and aviation together contribute more than €11bn to EU ETS revenues annually, with shipping accounting for around €9bn and aviation contributing €2.3bn in 2024 alone — a figure A4E says is on course to exceed €5bn per year by 2030.
The statement points to a persistent price gap between sustainable and conventional fuels as a barrier to wider adoption. Sustainable fuels are, on average, four times more expensive than conventional fuels for shipping and three to six times more expensive for aviation, according to the organisations.
Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General of ECSA, highlighted a geographic imbalance in sustainable fuel production as a particular concern: “European shipowners are leading global investments in sustainable fuel-powered vessels, with 44% of the global orderbook, but Europe’s fuel availability is not keeping pace. Asia leads with 74% of fuel production projects, while Europe accounts for just 10%. Less than 5% of European sustainable fuel production is currently intended for maritime use.”
Raptis added: “Shipping contributes around €9bn to the EU ETS. This money should be used at EU and national level to bridge the price gap and support sustainable fuel availability and clean tech projects. This is key for the energy transition of the sector and for the energy security of the continent.”
Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of A4E, said the current system was not delivering for airlines or the climate: “European airlines contributed €2.3bn to EU ETS in 2024 alone — a figure set to exceed €5bn annually by 2030. Yet the revenues are not being recycled back into the fuels and technologies airlines need to decarbonise.”
Georgoutsakou also raised concerns about the adequacy of measures currently on the table for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF): “The 20 million SAF allowances on the table fall short of what 2030 will demand, and without clarity on post-2030 availability, the investment case simply does not stack up. Airlines — and ultimately passengers — are paying into a system that is not working for them — or for the climate. Investing ETS revenues in fuel availability and offtakes is essential for decarbonising shipping and aviation and Europe’s energy security.”
ECSA represents 21 national shipowners’ associations in the EU and Norway. Its members control 34.5% of the global commercial fleet. A4E is Europe’s largest airline association, whose member carriers transported more than 798 million passengers in 2025.
