Chinese airlines defy Europe over emissions rules
Mainland airlines say Beijing told them not to provide data to EC's greenhouse gas scheme
Mainland air carriers will continue to defy the European Commission's order to comply with its carbon emissions trading scheme and provide flight data to and within Europe.
An executive from China Southern, who did not want to be named, said: "We will strictly go by what the State Council and Civil Aviation Administration of China has told us to do, that is, not to comply with the European Commission's emissions trading scheme. We have no say on this matter, as it's a diplomatic issue and beyond our reach."
We will strictly go by what the State Council and Civil Aviation Administration of China has told us to do, that is, not to comply with the European Commission's emissions trading scheme
The EC yesterday said it could fine eight Chinese and two Indian carriers for not paying for their greenhouse gas emissions as a result of flights within the European Union, AFP reported.
The China Air Transport Association said the fines imposed by the EC are related to the flight data that ought to have been submitted to the bloc by April.
The EC's move reverses a stance in November, when it decided to keep non-EU airlines out of the European emissions trading scheme for a year.
Air China, which is on the penalty list, decided to order 100 Airbus aircraft this month. This followed a letter of intent to buy 60 Airbus aircraft by the state-owned China Aviation Supplies Holding last month.