Niet! Russia threatens to restrict UK flights to Australia
Russia has threatened to cap flights over Siberia by airlines from the European Union.
Russia’s deputy transport minister Valery Okulov said he was looking at limiting EU airlines’ use of the routes over Siberia and giving preference instead to carriers from Japan, China and other Asian nations.
This could limit the number of new flights from the UK and elsewhere in Europe to Asia and Australia because, if Russia carries out its threat, it would force airlines to take a longer and more costly route.
The step by Russia is part of measures approved by 23 countries in retaliation for the EU’s decision to start charging airlines for their carbon emissions on flights to and from Europe from January 1.
“We are calling on the European Union to do whatever it takes to prevent a trade war,” Okulov said. “We intend to get EU’s carbon trading measures either cancelled or postponed.”
Moscow is also considering a law banning Russian airlines from taking part in the EU scheme.
Beijing has already told Chinese airlines to ignore the EU’s measure and a similar step is before the US Congress.
Separately, Hong Kong Airlines, backed by China’s fourth-largest carrier Hainan Airlines, may cancel its order for 10 Airbus A380 aircraft amid growing tensions between China and the European Union over the EU’s emissions trading scheme, the South China Morning Post.
The airline had ordered 10 double-decker A380s with a total list price of US$3.8 billion.
Ian Jarrett
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