Brussels, 25 June 2026. The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) welcomes the
judgment of the General Court annulling Section 3.21 of the Climate Delegated Act, which had
excluded the manufacture of business aviation aircraft from the scope of the EU Taxonomy.
EBAA intervened in support of Dassault Aviation and Daher as an act in defense of its
membership against a discriminatory decision that excluded the manufacturing of business
aircraft from the Taxonomy despite clear evidence that the sector is at the forefront of
technological innovation aimed at reducing its carbon footprint.
The Court’s judgment marks a significant and welcome development. It corrects the course of
the legislation and recognises that business aviation cannot be singled out on the basis
of assumptions that are not sufficiently supported. In doing so, it restores a more evidence
based and technology-neutral approach to sustainable finance rules.
In its reasoning, the Court made clear that the Commission had not sufficiently justified
a blanket exclusion of business aircraft manufacturing from the Taxonomy. In particular, it
found that the Commission had not demonstrated that other transport modes necessarily
constituted credible low-carbon alternatives to business aviation in all cases. The Court also
noted that the criterion relied on by the Commission related to the operation of aircraft rather
than their manufacture. More broadly, the judgment underlines that sustainable finance rules
must remain evidence-based, proportionate and aligned with the actual characteristics of the
activity being regulated.
Business aviation has long been a driver of innovation in aviation, including through the
development of more efficient aircraft, advanced materials, aerodynamic improvements and
lower-emission propulsion pathways. Business aviation operators are also contributing to the
uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuel within the framework of European legislation,
including ReFuelEU Aviation. The sector therefore has an important role to play in fostering a
more sustainable aviation system in Europe.
EBAA believes this judgment sends an important signal that EU legislation must be based on
facts, must respect equal treatment, and must properly reflect the contribution that business
aviation makes to European connectivity, innovation and industrial competitiveness.
Media contact: Róman Kok, rkok@ebaa.org, +32 488 39 19 79
About EBAA: The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) is the leading organisation for
operators of business aircraft in Europe. Our mission is to enable responsible, sustainable
growth for Business aviation, enhance connectivity and create opportunities. EBAA works to
improve safety standards and share knowledge, to further positive regulation and to ease all
aspects of closely tailored, flexible, point to point air transportation for individuals,
governments, businesses and local communities in the most time-efficient way possible.
Founded in 1977 and based in Brussels, EBAA represents +700 members companies, corporate
operators, commercial operators, manufacturers, airports, fixed-based operators, and more,
with a total fleet of +1,000 aircraft.
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Photo: © Daher