Airbus previously planned to announce a multi-billion-euro aircraft order last week.

China delays Airbus order on EU's CO2 trading policy

空客在华订单或被冻结

China has cancelled a multi-billion-euro aircraft order of 10 Airbus A380 aircrafts in protest against the European Union's plan to extend a carbon dioxide emissions trading scheme to the airline industry, foreign media reported over the weekend, citing people close to the matter.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Chinese government disapproves of the EU's intention to make international airlines pay for the emissions trading system. In protest, it has delayed the announcement of an order placed by Hong Kong Airlines Ltd. worth about US$4 billion.

Airbus had planned to announce the A380 order and name the buyer at a trade event in Paris last week, but told the WSJ "the political environment would not allow us to do that."

Hong Kong Airlines is a subsidiary of China's Hainan Airlines. Zhang Shanghui, chief financial officer of the Hainan Airlines, said Sunday he was not aware of the issue.

Airbus previously hoped to announce a major order with China during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin this week, the WSJ said. The deal may now be delayed or even scaled back, said a person familiar with the matter.