Chinese airlines aim to take the European Union to court by the end of the year over its plan to enforce emissions curbs on flights to and from the region’s airports, an official with China’s air travel association said.
The EU plan, part of a larger carbon-capping program, will be challenged in a lawsuit to be filed in Germany by airlines and the China Air Transport Association, Chai Haibo, the Beijing-based vice president of the association, said today.
“We are in the preparation for the lawsuit and hope to file as early as possible, hopefully by the end of this year,” Chai said. Members of the association include the nation’s biggest four airlines such as Air China Ltd., China Southern Airlines Co Ltd. and China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd.
Chinese airline officials have said the plan would result in higher air fares that could damp European growth and deter Chinese tourists from visiting the region.
U.S. carriers including United Continental Holdings Inc., AMR Corp.’s American Airlines and theAir Transport Association of America have challenged the EU’s first attempt to extend the world’s largest carbon cap-and-trade program beyond its borders.
