Electric Aviation Innovators Call for Bizjet Taxes

A group of aviation innovators has urged the European Commission (EC) to do more to support efforts to bring all-electric and hybrid-electric aircraft into commercial service. In an open letter published on June 11, signatories including aircraft developers Vaeridion, Aura Aero, and Elysian called for more support for research and development and industrialization, as well as changes (including tax reform) to make the market for the new technology more viable.

The companies complained that the EU market for what it calls zero-emission and hybrid aircraft (ZEHA) puts green aviation at a competitive disadvantage. It wants the EC to introduce stronger disincentives for the air transport sector to keep using carbon-emitting fuel.

"Today, an electric plane pays more taxes for its renewable electricity than a conventional plane for its polluting fuel,” commented Carlos López de la Osa, aviation technical manager with advocacy group Transport & Environment, which also signed the letter. “If we want to decarbonize aviation, we are flying in the wrong direction.”

The solution, he told AIN, is to make companies and consumers pay more for pollution. “This includes extending the scope of the EU ETS [Emissions Trading Scheme] to flights departing from the EU, and taxing the use of fossil fuel and private jets,” he stated.

Companies making the appeal to the EC want revenues from the new taxes to support work on ZEHA programs. They have called for increased support for the sector in the EC’s next Multiannual Financial Framework, including backing for start-ups to get their aircraft and other green technologies “from lab to market.”

Slot Allocation Reform

The letter demands reform of EU airport regulations to give operators of ZEHA aircraft priority access to slots. It also proposes changes to the Ground Handling Directive “to ensure fair and transparent access to electric charging and hydrogen refueling services” as well as a more competitive market for energy supplies at airports.

The signatories want the EC to help mitigate the elevated operating costs that ZEHA aircraft will have at the small-scale, early adoption phase. They called for concessions to favor electric aviation through the ReFuelEU rules and in the way the ETS is applied.

“ZEHA technologies can reduce Europe’s dependence on foreign energy, strengthen our aviation industry’s leadership, and reduce emissions,” López de la Osa said. “But today, our policy framework burdens these clean aircraft. If the EU truly wants zero-emission and hybrid aircraft to fly, it needs to put its laws where its mouth is." 

Last week, Vaeridion, which is developing a nine-seat electric regional aircraft, announced new additions to its market advisory committee. These include the following prospective operators and partners: ABS Jets, Aer Arann Islands, Avanti Air, BayernLB, BRUS, E-Flight Academy, Green Flyway, IDRF, NRG2fly, and Power Up.