A group representing China's largest airlines sent a formal notice to the EU expressing strong opposition to non-member-state airlines' inclusion in the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme from 2012.
The China Air Transport Assn., representing Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and Sichuan Airlines, estimated that Chinese carriers will be forced to pay millions of yuan annually to comply with the ETS. The figure could keep rising with increases in flights between China and Europe planned by Chinese airlines.
CA is scheduled to launch Beijing-Dusseldorf service on March 27, PEK-Munich-Athens flights on May 11, and PEK-Milan service on June 15. CEA plans start flights from Shanghai to Rome in April while China Southern is expected to soon start Guangzhou-Amsterdam service and boost flight frequencies between CAN and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
The organization said in its statement to the EU that the inclusion of carriers from developing countries in the ETS is illegal and violates the "common but differentiated responsibility" principle. It called for a global solution to dealing with air transport-related carbon dioxide emissions.
"But if the EU insists on imposing its ETS on our carriers, we would urge the Chinese government to take corresponding measures to protect Chinese airlines' interest in the global air transport industry," the group of carriers warned. The EU noted it would maintain communication with Chinese airlines on the issue.
The China Air Transport Assn., representing Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and Sichuan Airlines, estimated that Chinese carriers will be forced to pay millions of yuan annually to comply with the ETS. The figure could keep rising with increases in flights between China and Europe planned by Chinese airlines.
CA is scheduled to launch Beijing-Dusseldorf service on March 27, PEK-Munich-Athens flights on May 11, and PEK-Milan service on June 15. CEA plans start flights from Shanghai to Rome in April while China Southern is expected to soon start Guangzhou-Amsterdam service and boost flight frequencies between CAN and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
The organization said in its statement to the EU that the inclusion of carriers from developing countries in the ETS is illegal and violates the "common but differentiated responsibility" principle. It called for a global solution to dealing with air transport-related carbon dioxide emissions.
"But if the EU insists on imposing its ETS on our carriers, we would urge the Chinese government to take corresponding measures to protect Chinese airlines' interest in the global air transport industry," the group of carriers warned. The EU noted it would maintain communication with Chinese airlines on the issue.
