Hong Kong Airlines under pressure to scrap A380 order: report

Beijing: Hong Kong Airlines Ltd has threatened to scrap an aircraft deal with Europe-based aircraft maker Airbus, according to media reports. This comes amid mounting tussle between the European Union and the rest of the world over the former's decision to levy carbon emission taxes on aircraft for operating in its airspace.

China's fourth-largest carrier Hong Kong Airlines, which is backed by Hainan Airlines Co Ltd, said it was being pressurized to cancel 10 Airbus A380s it had ordered at a cost of $3.8 billion, according to the South China Morning Post.

"We cannot do something which is against our country's interests," the paper quoted the carrier's president Yang Jianhong as saying.

The A380 superjumbo is Airbus' flagship passenger jet.

An Airbus spokeswoman said Hong Kong Airlines' orders "have been placed in the order book and they remain there", while others declined on making any comments.

China is firm on scrapping all orders with Airbus because of the Emissions Trading Scheme set to be rolled out by the EU next spring.