Doha, November 03 (QNA) - The 59th General Assembly of the Arab Air Carriers' Organization (AACO), hosted by Qatar Airways, issued three key resolutions addressing environmental issues, condemning attacks on civil aviation facilities and personnel in the Arab region, and promoting knowledge sharing among Arab airlines.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the assembly, AACO Secretary General Abdul Wahab Teffaha said the first resolution rejected a European Commission proposal to expand the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) from 2029 to cover flights departing the European Economic Area for non-European countries within 5,000 kilometers of Frankfurt Airport.

He said AACO considers the proposed expansion a unilateral measure that exceeds the European Union's territorial jurisdiction and conflicts with the principle of state sovereignty under the Chicago Convention.

The resolution also warned against double financial burdens on airlines, which pay for sustainable aviation fuel under European and British requirements without receiving recognition for the resulting emissions reductions under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

It reaffirmed CORSIA as the agreed global market-based mechanism for addressing international aviation emissions, calling for these emissions to be addressed through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), while avoiding unilateral measures, overlapping obligations and double compensation for the same emissions.

The resolution urged Arab civil aviation authorities to address these issues through ICAO and tasked the AACO General Secretariat with communicating the organization's position to relevant European, regional and international bodies and seeking recognition of verified emissions reductions.

Regarding the second resolution, Teffaha said it condemned recent attacks on civil aviation facilities in several Arab countries, which resulted in casualties and aircraft destruction.

It rejected such attacks regardless of their justifications and called for respect for international law and the protection of facilities, aircraft, passengers, and air and ground crews from military action.

The third resolution focused on strengthening knowledge sharing among Arab airlines in several areas, including recruitment of employees from other carriers at various levels.

Teffaha said the assembly, which opened on Monday and is being hosted by Doha for the fourth time, brought together around 200 senior Arab and international aviation officials, aircraft and engine manufacturers, technology companies and industry partners.

The assembly reviewed the Secretary General's report on the civil aviation sector, a Bloomberg presentation on economic outlooks, energy prices and their impact on operating costs, and a joint presentation by Amadeus and SITA on a system for managing environmental costs and obligations and transparently informing passengers how these affect ticket prices.

He praised the achievements of Qatar Airways and other Arab carriers, noting that the Arab region's share of global passenger traffic has risen from 2 percent in 1980 to 10 percent today.

On the sidelines of the assembly, AACO signed a framework memorandum of understanding with global air transport technology provider SITA to help interested Arab airlines develop baggage-tracking systems and improve the passenger experience.

The memorandum was signed by Teffaha on behalf of AACO and SITA's Salim Bouri, in the presence of the assembly's president.

Teffaha said mishandled baggage cost airlines an estimated USD 6.3 billion in 2025, averaging USD 260 per bag. He said modern technologies enable real-time baggage tracking, early detection and notification of problems, and simpler procedures for handling lost baggage.

He added that the memorandum provides a framework for member airlines wishing to contract directly with SITA, without obliging any airline to participate, while offering preferential benefits in cost, technical support and implementation speed. (QNA)