Concerns copycat ‘ecological’ aviation tax is spreading across Europe

International Air Carriers Association expressed (01-Nov-2010) concerns over plans announced by the Austrian government to introduce a tax to be paid by all airline passengers departing Austrian airports. Passengers will be charged EUR8 for intra-European flights and EUR40 for long-haul flights. The tax is expected to raise approximately EUR40 million to EUR60 million in 2011. [more]

IACA: "This is an obvious attempt by the Austrian government to jump on the same band wagon as Germany and introduce a thinly-disguised ecological tax to take money from airline passengers for their own coffers.The plans for this tax seem to have been announced without any consideration for the effect on airlines, passengers, the economy and the environment These types of taxes are not the way to reduce aviation emissions. European governments would be better off spending their time trying to achieve the Single European Sky which will have a much greater impact on lessening emissions in Europe." Sylviane Lust, Director Genera. Source: IACA, 01-Nov-2010