On June 8, EU transport ministers issued a joint statement saying that any airline operating flights to or within the EU must participate in the European emissions trading scheme, which European carriers have warned would hit bottom lines hard and the US government and IATA have said would be in violation of international aviation agreements.

"Given the forecast growth in the volume of air traffic and, accordingly, its increasing environmental impacts, aviation also has to contribute to ... reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions," transport ministers from the 27 EU nations, who met earlier in Luxembourg, said.

The ministers did not say whether the scheme they envision is the one previously outlined, which European carriers claimed earlier would reduce collective airline profits by EUR9.5-EUR40.5 billion (US$12.83-US$54.71 billion) during the 2011-2022 period. But they promised to work to stop other nations or international organizations from blocking airlines' inclusion and said they also would push for a global emissions trading program for airlines.

"Every mode of transport, including the air mode, has to make its contribution to tackling climate change," German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee said.