Executive Summary

This publication is the second in our three part series dealing with "Minimising volatility for the airline industry". In the first publication, Jacqui Drew dealt with the issue that airlines are being included in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme and the consequences for them. The aim of this scheme is to reduce emissions in a cost effective manner allowing companies to trade emission allowances and thereby determine how and where they reduce emissions. From 1st January 2012 all airlines flying to and from the European Union are required to match their carbon emissions with carbon credits. Although each airline receives an allowance on an annual basis this is unlikely to match actual emissions and hence the airline will be exposed to this volatile commodity. In the first publication we highlighted the facts of this scheme, some initial views on what we are seeing in the market, and the opposition to this scheme in various countries.

This second part in this series discusses the accounting considerations and implications. The third part in the series will deal with a case study from an airline highlighting their strategy and approach to this scheme. The accounting considerations are important as there is not a single accounting standard that deals with emissions rights and liabilities and therefore there may be different application in practice. As you will note from below, depending on the accounting treatment adopted, hedge accounting may or may not be beneficial and applicable for every airline.