Proposal to tax frequent flyers instead of expanding airports

[Anna]

Bound to hit a few nerves among AFFers if similar proposals were made in Australia

"Plans for a “frequent flyer” tax to curb demand for leisure flights and make a new runway in south-east England unnecessary have been unveiled by an influential group of transport campaigners, environmentalists and tax experts."

"Proposed tax would only hit better-off who holiday more than once a year".

Levy on frequent leisure flyers proposed to make airport expansion unnecessary | World news | The Guardian

 

[trippin_the_rift]

How about a "non flying levy" applied to anyone who doesn't take at least 1 annual flight.

Encourage more people to become frequent flyers

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

"Proposed tax would only hit better-off who holiday more than once a year".

Levy on frequent leisure flyers proposed to make airport expansion unnecessary | World news | The Guardian

I think the source of that story tells you all you need to know!

Anyway, I have this irresistible urge to go on a geological fact finding business trip around eastern Europe.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In principal it sounds reasonable enough - user pays. Although I'm not sure why it should be limited to leisure travelers... business travelers should also pay it... there are alternatives to having to fly somewhere just to have a meeting (and if you can't, then pay pay the cost).

Where it gets a bit tricky is the blurred 'user pays' for outbound departures, versus the need to attract tourists inbound. All the planes leaving also bring tourists in... and many economies need that money. Everyone (not just the flyers) benefit from any increase in tourist numbers.