Chinese airlines refuse to pay EU emissions charge

Chinese airlines will not pay European Union carbon emissions charges that came into force on January 1, a national aviation industry group says.

The EU launched the Emissions Trading System (ETS) in 2005 in a bid to reduce carbon emissions of power stations and industrial plants, and extended the scheme to airlines from Sunday.

The move means airlines have to buy emissions permits to fly in Europe under a cap-and-trade scheme that has angered the US and Chinese governments and airlines worldwide.

"China, of course, will not cooperate with the European Union on the ETS," said Chai Haibo, deputy secretary-general of the China Air Transport Association (CATA).

"The CATA, on behalf of Chinese airlines, is strongly against the EU's improper practice of unilaterally forcing international airlines into its ETS," Chai said.

He said the Chinese government was considering "counter-measures" against the European Union, but gave no details.

State media has previously warned the EU scheme "infringes on national sovereignty, violates international aviation treaties and will lead to a trade war" in the sector.

It came into force on January 1 after the European Union's highest court rejected a challenge brought by US carriers last month.

AFP