China airlines will not pay EU emissions tax: industry body

HONG KONG (Reuters): The China Air Transport Association, which represents the country’s four major airlines including flag-carrier Air China Ltd, said on Wednesday that Chinese airlines would not pay any charges under the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

“China will not co-operate with the European Union on the ETS, so Chinese airlines will not impose surcharges on customers relating to the emissions tax,” Deputy Secretary-General Cai Haibo told Reuters in a telephone interview. The EU began charging airlines for carbon emissions on flights to and from Europe from January 1.