The spat over the EU's controversial emissions trading scheme continues. This time with the region's own companies speaking out. The heads of planemaker Airbus and a group of top European airlines and engine makers have written to the political leaders of Britain, France, Spain and Germany calling on them to resolve an escalating trade spat over the recently introduced EU carbon charge.

Aviation firms call on EU leaders to fix carbon spat.

The signatories said retaliation by China and other countries that oppose the ETS was leading to serious consequences for the region's aviation industry. Airbus said China had already suspended orders for its aircraft worth 12 billion dollars, which may put the planemaker's more than one thousand in-house jobs and at least another one thousand supplychain positions at risk.

In the joint letter, the CEOs called on the EU to "find a compromise solution and to have these punitive trade measures stopped before it is too late." They also said a solution could only come via the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which had recently appointed a group to make proposals for international aviation emissions by the end of the year.