Lufthansa, Delta Jockey for Free Carbon Permits: Energy Markets

The biggest expansion of Europe’s carbon market is pitting Deutsche Lufthansa AG against Japan Airlines Corp. and Delta Air Lines Inc. in a contest for free permits as traders struggle against computer hackers.

Airlines serving the European Union face caps on their greenhouse-gas emissions starting next year, when they join almost 12,000 factories and power stations in the world’s largest carbon market. The EU regulator, which pushed back an August 2009 deadline for setting the limits, said Jan. 18 it needs more time to verify airline emissions data and “respond to questions raised by the industry.”