The EU's emissions scheme will impose costs on all airlines flying into and within the bloc which could rise to the equivalent of $80 per passenger for long-haul flights between New Zealand and Europe. Photo / Paul Estcourt.

The EU's emissions scheme will impose costs on all airlines flying into and within the bloc which could rise to the equivalent of $80 per passenger for long-haul flights between New Zealand and Europe. Photo / Paul Estcourt.

European Union aviation negotiators will look closely at New Zealand's emissions trading scheme while hammering out what could be a ground-breaking deal to open access to Europe.

The EU's own emissions scheme will impose costs on all airlines flying into and within the bloc which could rise to the equivalent of $80 per passenger for long-haul flights between New Zealand and Europe.

This is in addition to "environment" levies imposed by individual member states.

An EU negotiator, Mark Nicklas, said it was hoped the agreement would be concluded next year and would have a significant environment component in it.

"Air New Zealand could benefit from exemptions that are possible under the ETS. If we come to the conclusion that equivalent measures are in place then flights arriving from New Zealand could be exempt from our system."

However, the New Zealand system relates only to emissions from domestic flights rather than international services.

The agreement could still hold benefits for New Zealand as it may eliminate limits on the number of flights to EU countries and the airports served.

Under what would be reciprocal arrangements, carriers could pick up passengers within Europe and fly them on to another country.

The negotiations started late last year and are due to resume within the next few months.

Open skies agreements are reasonably common but the EU's "ambitious agenda" went well beyond that, Nicklas said.

"We want to have comparable regulatory bodies on both sides, so we don't have a double burden on the industry."

There were moves to have across-the-board safety regulations imposed by Europe, but the air services agreement could eliminate this requirement, meaning New Zealand standards would be recognised there.

"We see New Zealand as a like-minded aviation partner where we would go as far as possible. For Europe to be frank, the commercial upside is relatively limited because no carrier is operating there."

Nicklas said there was broad agreement on most of the issues but the more sensitive issues revolved around airline ownership and the environment.

From 2012 a EU-wide cap on aviation emissions will be set at 97 per cent of the average annual emissions for the years 2004-2006. Airlines will have to buy 15 per cent of their allowances under this cap through an auction after initially receiving 85 per cent free of charge.