The airline industry is already facing new financial liabilities under European Union proposals to expand its carbon emissions trading. Now a group of British Parliamentary Members are suggesting a "significant increase" in taxes for airline passengers to combat global climate change.
In a report released Wednesday, the Environmental Audit Committee of the House of commons suggested higher taxes, including a new charge for the longest international flights, would curb the demand for air travel and raise money to assist environmental programs.
The Committee noted that the aviation industry has been "very lightly taxed," with almost a 30% cut in taxes (when adjusted for inflation) between May 1997 and February 2007.
The report suggests the introduction of a new level of taxes to be applied to "very long haul" flights, noting that a trip from London to Australia emits roughly three times as many greenhouse gases as a flight from London to New York, yet each are classified as "long-haul."
In addition, the report suggests a significant increase in taxes on short flights as well, which produce higher average emissions due to the increased quantities of fuel consumed during takeoff and landing. The Committee said higher taxes on these flights would encourage train transportation, which has less emissions.
The Members of Parliament said, "It is vital that tax on aviation is not just reformed but significantly increased, so as to stabilise demand and resulting emissions."
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