Airlines for Europe (A4E) calls on leaders in Washington and Brussels to pull back from the brink of a trade war and keep aviation out of the crossfire.
As the US considers a blanket 30% tariff on EU goods and the EU weighs retaliation, A4E urges both sides to keep aircraft and spare parts tariff-free.
New tariffs would add millions to fleet costs, disrupt the critical flow of spare parts and repairs that keep planes flying safely, and delay the rollout of newer, quieter, lower-emission jets. The result would be fewer aircraft deliveries, more expensive operations, and slower climate progress – with no winners on either side of the Atlantic.
“This industry thrives on cross-border competition and cooperation – not confrontation,” said Ourania Georgoutsakou, Airlines for Europe Managing Director. “Imposing tariffs on aircraft and parts would be a lose-lose move that puts jobs, connectivity, and sustainability at risk.”
A4E is urging both sides to use the current window of opportunity to de-escalate tensions and safeguard the world’s most successful transatlantic industrial partnership.
The transatlantic aviation lifeline
Aviation is uniquely global, with transatlantic competition and collaboration at its core. Aircraft are ordered years in advance and often rely on transatlantic production and maintenance partnerships. Boeing and Airbus aircraft – and the engines that power them – depend on highly specialised supply chains that stretch across the US and the EU.
Aircraft parts regularly cross borders for maintenance, repair and overhaul by certified providers – often multiple times over their service life. Imposing tariffs on this movement of parts would create chaos, cause unnecessary delays, and increase costs for passengers and cargo alike.
At stake is the smooth functioning of a sector that supports millions of jobs, delivers essential connectivity, and underpins both Europe’s and America’s competitiveness in the global economy. A4E urges policymakers to keep aircraft and aircraft parts out of any tariff package – and to recommit to open, rules-based trade in aviation.
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