European airlines slam Dutch government plans to raise airline ticket taxes
forbes.com
AMSTERDAM - The Association of European Airlines (AEA), representing 31 companies, has put out an official protest against Dutch government plans to raise extra taxes on airline tickets.
The association also said that Air France-KLM could be hit hardest by the move, as KLM is based in the Netherlands and Dutch customers are seen buying tickets at airlines flying from neighbouring countries.
The AEA said the 11.25 eur hike per ticket on pan-European flights and 45 eur on intercontinental journeys is nothing but a new way to raise extra cash for the Dutch exchequer.
The AEA said that the extra money is not going to be used for environmental purposes, nor for infrastructural purposes which could reduce aviation's impact on the environment.
AEA secretary general Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus said the tax measure will 'contribute absolutely nothing' to 'the process' of making flying more environmentally friendly.
