IACA today spoke of its concern at the plans announced by the Austrian government last weekend to introduce, for budgetary reasons, an 'ecological tax' to be paid by all airline passengers departing from Austrian airports. In a copycat move mirroring a similar tax recently introduced by Germany, passengers will be charged 8euro for intra-European flights and 40euro for long-haul flights. The tax is expected to raise approximately 40euro - 60euro million in 2011 for the Austrian government. Commenting on the news, Sylviane Lust, Director General of IACA said:"This is an obvious attempt by the Austrian government to jump on the same band wagon as Germany and introduce a thinly-disguised ecological tax to take money from airline passengers for their own coffers. The plans for this tax seem to have been announced without any consideration for the effect on airlines, passengers, the economy and the environment." "These types of taxes are not the way to reduce aviation emissions. European governments would be better off spending their time trying to achieve the Single European Sky which will have a much greater impact on lessening emissions in Europe." "The news comes at the end of a very difficult year for airlines and carriers can ill-afford any additional pressure on passenger demand." "This type of tax is spreading across Europe. It has been withdrawn in The Netherlands after passengers sought alternative airports to depart from to avoid paying the tax." "I would urge the Austrian government to re-consider its plans to introduce this ill-conceived ticket tax."
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