The Influence of Emission Trading Regulation on Airline Stock Prices

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2012 in the subject Business economics - Miscellaneous, grade: 1.3, European Business School - International University Schloß Reichartshausen Oestrich-Winkel (Aviation Management), language: English, abstract: The introduction of an emission trading system within the European Union from 2012 on represents a major financial barrier for all airlines, especially those operating their hubs inside the EU. While the plan is to request all airlines flying in the EU to buy emission certificates, most non-European carriers could still benefit from the international disputes going on at the moment. European-based airlines in turn fear a disadvantage against their non-european competitors, as the need for emission certificates will burden their already high cost structures even further. The paper should first explain the concept of emission trading schemes as well as the current plan of introducing emission trading in the European Union. The second part will then elaborate on the airline's perspective on emission trading and the included risks/ disadvantages originating from an introduction of such a system. A third part will then analyze the correlation between announcements concerning the emission trading system and the performance of airline stock prices. The analysis shall be based on the stock performance of major European airlines, as they will be the ones facing major discrimination if the system gets introduced. Finally, the usefulness of an emission trading system is going to be discussed and alternatives to solve the climate change issue will be presented.