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AEA slams Dutch travel tax
1 Oct 2007
The Association of European Airlines (AEA) has criticised the Dutch government for a new tax on travellers passing in and out of the Netherlands.
According to the AEA, which comprises such airlines as British Airways, Air France and Iberia, the new tax system will see passengers departing from Dutch airports charged an extra €11.25 (£7.80) for intra-European flights.
Combined with the €45 tax for intercontinental flights, the new duty is expected to raise €350m a year for the Dutch exchequer.
The AEA dismissed the government's claims that there is a green motivation behind the new scheme, describing it as a 'money-raising measure masquerading as an environmental tax'.
Secretary general Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus said: 'For the AEA airlines, greenhouse gas emissions per passenger and per kilometre have reduced almost 20% over the last ten years.
'This has been achieved through investment in more efficient aircraft and the tailoring of capacity to demand resulting in fewer empty seats. This new tax will contribute nothing, absolutely nothing, to that process.'
According to the AEA the secret to reducing harmful emissions in Europe is the Single Sky project, which will reportedly eliminate wasteful and inefficient flight routings by unifying the continental airspace.
Click here to plan and book flights, hotels, city breaks, rental cars and holidays with Opodo.
© Adfero Ltd
According to the AEA, which comprises such airlines as British Airways, Air France and Iberia, the new tax system will see passengers departing from Dutch airports charged an extra €11.25 (£7.80) for intra-European flights.
Combined with the €45 tax for intercontinental flights, the new duty is expected to raise €350m a year for the Dutch exchequer.
The AEA dismissed the government's claims that there is a green motivation behind the new scheme, describing it as a 'money-raising measure masquerading as an environmental tax'.
Secretary general Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus said: 'For the AEA airlines, greenhouse gas emissions per passenger and per kilometre have reduced almost 20% over the last ten years.
'This has been achieved through investment in more efficient aircraft and the tailoring of capacity to demand resulting in fewer empty seats. This new tax will contribute nothing, absolutely nothing, to that process.'
According to the AEA the secret to reducing harmful emissions in Europe is the Single Sky project, which will reportedly eliminate wasteful and inefficient flight routings by unifying the continental airspace.
Click here to plan and book flights, hotels, city breaks, rental cars and holidays with Opodo.
© Adfero Ltd
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