New rules mean UK travel firms, including a number in Scotland, will for the first time have to pay something toward the environmental damage their operations cause as result of pollution from air travel.

On Sunday 1 January 2012, Scottish-registered bmi Regional, Loganair and Milburn World Travel joined hundreds of other aviation-related businesses in the UK and throughout Europe in having to comply with the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) – which aims to cut climate change pollution from all flights that arrive at or depart from an EU airport.

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WWF Scotland welcomed the start of the scheme, which will see airlines having to buy carbon permits for 15 per cent of every flight's emissions. However, the environmental group warned that it was only the first step to cleaning up the environmental problems caused by the aviation industry.

Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland said: "Aviation is the fastest growing source of climate change emissions in Europe, yet until now airlines have managed to avoid paying toward the environmental damage they cause globally. Despite the scare stories from the industry, ticket prices will rise by only a trivial amount.

"Even though aviation enjoys significant exemption from taxes, including VAT and fuel duty, the scheme has been fiercely resisted by many in the industry with support from some countries outside of Europe. However, the scheme is both necessary and welcome. In the longer term there needs to be a fully global agreement to curb pollution for airlines."

(GK)