Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context

411. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in light of the substantially higher carbon footprint per passenger kilometre associated with first class and business class flights compared with economy class flights (details supplied), for any plans to reduce the number of premium flights from Ireland, including any prospective regulations related to advertising such flights or excluding them from rewards programmes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23991/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ireland strongly supports the policy objective of reducing aviation emissions and is aligned with strategies related to achieving this objective at both EU level and internationally via the UN’s specialised agency, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The global approach to decarbonisation of the industry is based on ICAO’s ‘basket of measures’ which identifies four pillars from which reductions are to be realised. These are aircraft technology improvements, operational improvements, increased development and use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and a global market-based measure known as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation.

At European level, Ireland continues to support the EU’s “Fit for 55 Package” which aims to facilitate a minimum net 55% EU greenhouse gas emission reduction by 2030. Furthermore, there are a number of EU regulations and directives in place that are aimed at reducing aviation emissions. This includes the EU emissions trading system, and the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation which places an obligation on aviation fuel suppliers to supply an increasing share of aviation fuel blended with SAF at European Union airports, and requires airlines to increase their uptake of SAF in predefined incremental steps.

The ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation also includes a voluntary environmental labelling scheme to enable the environmental performance of flights to be measured. The scope of the label extends to emissions from flights departing from or arriving at European Union Airports, and aircraft operators must apply to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for a label to be administered. It is expected that EASA will issue the first batch of labels by July this year.

As the Deputy will be aware, airlines decide on the seat configuration they will offer on routes based on their business model. We have a large number of airlines operating services to and from Irish airports, some offering economy class only and others offering a mix of economy, premium economy, business and first class. I am not aware of any plans by airlines to reduce the number of flights offering first class or business class seats from Ireland. There are no prospective regulations on the advertising of business class flights or excluding them from rewards programmes.

I and my officials regularly engage with the key stakeholders across the aviation sector in relation to efforts to reduce emissions and decarbonise the aviation industry, and my Department remains committed to the continued development of policy in this area both at EU and international level.