TAXED OUT OF THE SKY
Friday 23 June 2006
Tough calls for green taxes on aircraft fuel to reduce carbon emissions and limit the impact on our environment.
With the energy review due to be completed on Tuesday 11 July, campaign groups are calling for tougher action from the government to tax commercial airliners.
Nathan Argent, climate and energy campaigner for Green peace, said: “We have all these low-cost budget airlines and people flying to Europe for long weekends for a fraction of the price they used to. They need to make it more expensive and more difficult for people to fly.”
Aviation fuel for commercial airliners does not have any duty levied on it, air travel is currently taxed by air passenger duty.
National Energy Spokesman for the Green Party, Tom Tibbits said: “The argument is if we tell those aircraft at Heathrow they have to pay tax they’ll go to Paris and refuel at a derogated tax rate.
“The issue of cheap airlines and aviation fuel, which does amount to nine to ten billion pound subsidy to industry, is a very important one, but it does require some very nimble political footwork to get it agreed to.”
Conservative Shadow Minister for Energy Science and Technology, Charles Hendry said: “One has to be conscious that if you put huge taxes on that you will start to create a two-tier society. Those who are wealthy will be able to travel and the world will become out of bounds for those on lower incomes.”