US flights will not pay European green air tax
December 12, 2011
A US Senator has introduced a European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act, a bill to prevent the EU from adding a tax on flights in US airspace.
John Thune of South Dakota’s bill is a response to European regulations saying that from 1 January, all international flights to and from the EU will fall into the EU Emissions Trading System.
This would include flights between the US and the EU.
Thune said: “The idea that the European Union has the right to tax American air passengers and carriers flies in the face of our country’s sovereignty. I reject this proposed European tax.”
The new legislation would enable the US Department of Transportation to take action to ensure US airlines were not penalised by “any tax unilaterally imposed by the EU”.
Experts estimate the tax would cost US airlines and passengers more than $3.1 billion between 2012 and 2020.
The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act is supported by numerous airline stakeholders, including Airlines for America (A4A), the Cargo Airline Association and the International Air Transport Association.
A4A President and CEO Nicholas Calioin praised Senator Thune for opposing “illegal and bad policy”.
Courtesy of IFW
