The Swedish government plans to charge airlines more at takeoff and landing based on how much their aircraft contribute to pollution.
The measure is set to take effect in July and essentially a way of phasing out aircraft that run on older technology and produce more waste as it means that older aircraft will be hit with the higher fees, while newer and more efficient aircraft will benefit from the scheme.
The Ministry of Infrastructure described the plan as a first in Europe and possibly the world stating: “This means that takeoff and landing fees can be more significant when a plane’s climate impact is higher and they can be reduced when the climate impact is lower.”
The project, which has yet to be approved by parliament and will directly impact aircraft flying in and out of Arlanda Airport in Stockholm and Landvetter Airport in Gothenburg. It will also include planes that fly on biofuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Sweden is where the flygskam or flight shaming movement began in 2018, which pressured people to stop flying in order to lower carbon emissions. According to Swedish Railways, a single flight between Stockholm and Gothenburg generates as much carbon dioxide as 40,000 train journeys.
