US industry unites against new taxes aimed to reduce deficit

Thousands of United States airline jobs will be lost if two new proposed government taxes become effective, according to America's airline representative body, the Air Transport Association, which has been joined by other industry groups in opposing new taxes designed to reduce the deficit.

The proposals have galvanised the industry by bringing together unions as well as business aviation pilots and manufacturers with a single message: no new taxes. Passengers are already over taxed, says a beleaguered industry struggling to claw out of the recession and avoid the consequences of a double dip. They rightly suggest aviation is being unfairly burdened not only with the cost of infrastructure and security but, now, reducing the deficit.