EU shouldn't levy tax on Chinese airlines: Official

BEIJING - China's civil aviation industry urged the European Union not to hit developing nations with the carbon tax that it wants to impose on flights in and out of Europe starting in 2012.

The EU has planned to include the aviation sector under its Emissions Trading Plan in order to urge airlines to reduce carbon emissions. Aviation is now responsible for 3 percent of EU carbon emissions.

Airlines will be allotted certain emission quotas, which are 97 percent of the average 2004-2006 emissions for 2012 and are set to decrease year-on-year. They can sell their quota surplus or buy the shortage.