Written question asked by Richard Holden (Conservative) on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 July 2026. It was answered by Chris McDonald (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Aviation: Costs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate has been made of the potential cost impact of the UK ETS and domestic carbon pricing mechanisms on the cost of UK domestic flights between 2026 and 2050.

Answer: Due to uncertainty surrounding both future emissions and carbon prices, the Government has not produced an estimate of the potential impact of the UK ETS on the cost of domestic flights between 2026 and 2050. The costs faced by aircraft operators will depend on the level of emissions covered by the UK ETS and the future price of UK ETS allowances. DESNZ publishes traded carbon values for modelling purposes, which provide scenario-based projections of future carbon prices rather than forecasts. As uncertainty increases over longer time horizons, any estimates of future UK ETS costs should be treated with caution.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 16609
Session: 2026-27
Related items: UK Emissions Trading Scheme: Aviation
Tuesday, 8 September 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Aviation Costs Carbon emissions UK emissions trading scheme
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk