Airports Council International (ACI) Europe has criticised the Dutch government, accusing it of undermining connectivity and weakening investment in decarbonisation, following the decision to increase taxes on airfares.
While the specific percentage of the tax hike has yet to be confirmed, the tax will affect both domestic and international flights departing from the Netherlands. It is the second such rise on top of an existing fee added to consumer air travel.
Both ACI Europe and European Airlines (A4E) have warned that the decision to further increase its already high tax will undermine connectivity, harm passengers and weaken investment in aviation decarbonisation.
“Raising aviation taxes is the textbook example of short-term political thinking,” said Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe.
“Ticket taxes harm the benefits that airports provide for citizens and national economies. Crucially, taxing aviation diverts resources away from the massive investments required to achieve net-zero. What we need is government support to accelerate this transition, not policies that weaken the sector and penalise consumers.”
The sentiment was echoed by A4E Managing Director, Ourania Georgoutsakou, who added: “Time and time again, these unjustified tax rises have been shown to serve neither the passenger nor the climate. It simply makes the Netherlands less attractive as a place for business and tourism: passengers continue to travel, but to another destination.”
Photo: Royal Schiphol Group
