The China Air Transport Association, which represents major airlines including Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Hainan Airlines, has said that its members will not pay the new European Union tax aimed at cutting carbon emissions.
On 1st January, the EU brought airlines under its Emissions Trading Scheme, which levies a charge on flights based on their carbon emissions. Airlines that do not comply with the new EU tax may be fined and could be prohibited from flying into the region.
The tax has been criticised by Canada, China, India, and the USA. In December, the USA lost its attempt to have the ETS blocked by the European Court of Justice.
Last year it was claimed that the ETS could cost Chinese airlines €95 million in additional costs each year. “The CATA, on behalf of Chinese airlines, is strongly against the EU’s improper practice of unilaterally forcing international airlines into its ETS,” said Chai Haibo of the CATA.
