BRUSSELS: Saudi Arabian Airlines has been fined some 1.4 million euros ($1.6 million) by a regional Belgian government for breaching EU carbon emissions rules, making it the first big non-EU carrier to be fined for breaking the EU aviation law.
The European Union requirement that all aircraft using its airports pay for carbon emissions caused international outcry when it was introduced at the start of 2012.
Among the staunchest opponents was Saudi Arabia, which told its state-run airline not to comply. India and Russia were also outspoken critics.
Faced with threats of a trade war, the EU changed its legislation to apply only to flights within the bloc, rather than the entire length of flights in and out of EU airports. That still included EU flights carried out by non-EU operators.
