Air traffic tax

Air traffic tax

International aviation charges instead of competition-distorting taxes

Germany is one of the few countries in Europe that levies a direct air traffic tax in addition to other charges. It is imposed on all flights departing from German airports and measured according to the actual destination. However, the annual revenues of more than 1 billion euros generated by the air traffic tax have not been used appropriately so far and, thus, could not have been applied in a targeted manner as an investment in quieter and lower-emission aircraft. The new German government wants to change this now. BARIG welcomes the decision to use the revenues of the air traffic tax in the future for the promotion of power-to-liquid (PtL) production and alternative fuels as well as for fleet modernization.

Nonetheless, an abolition of the German air traffic tax in its current form should be advocated principally, since it is directed only at airlines departing from German airports. International aviation charges instead would create a fair framework for all parties involved. Therefore, BARIG supports the proposal of the new German government to introduce Europe-wide passenger and destination related charges similar to the current German air traffic tax. However, these new charges would be paid by all airlines equally and benefit the climate effectively.

As part of the European “Fit for 55” package defining climate measures and targets, the introduction of a kerosene tax is currently being discussed. The EU Commission should urgently refrain from this plan, though, as a kerosene tax would inevitably lead to significant distortions of competition and carbon leakage and not contribute to climate protection at all.

In any case, international aviation charges appear to be a more effective solution for the promotion of environmentally protective measures than unilaterally burdensome and competition-distorting taxes.

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