Dutch Government cancels proposed airfreight tax, planning to increase passenger tax rate

Netherlands' Government announced (13-Nov-2020) amendments to its environmental air passenger tax, due to be introduced from 01-Jan-2021, including the cancellation of the previously proposed tax for airfreight. The bill will be amended to increase the passenger tax rate from EUR7.00 to EUR7.45 per departing passenger to compensate for the lost cargo tax revenue. The additional study indicated that the introduction of an airfreight tax would result in cargo airlines relocating their operations from the Netherlands to neighbouring countries, which would have major consequences for Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Maastricht Aachen Airport. The Dutch Cabinet remains committed to a European air passenger tax. [more - original PR - Dutch]