China has denied Lufthansa from obtaining rights to operate an Airbus A380 to Shanghai due to its opposition to the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
Lufthansa chairman and CEO Christoph Franz said: “The EU ETS is further increasing the already distorted level playing. We cannot accept retaliatory measures against the EU ETS in whatever form, landing rights or other. Some days ago, Lufthansa once again did not get the authorization to use an A380 to Shanghai.”
He added that he was in favour of a global emissions solution but that for the moment it is “trapped in a corner”. The airline started hedging and buying CO2 certificates in the second half of 2011, and it estimated the 35% of the ETS certificates it requires will cost €130 million for the airline group.
China denies Lufthansa’s route request in protest over EU EST
