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Delay aviation tax because of coronavirus, says airline boss
(EurActiv, 4 Mar 2020) Air France-KLM CEO Benjamin Smith said on Tuesday (3 March) that plans to levy green taxes on aviation should be postponed because of the economic impact caused by coronavirus.
The airline boss told the Airlines4Europe conference in Brussels that the industry is being hit hard by the virus, which has killed more than 3,000 people worldwide, and that planned initiatives to tax air travel more should be put on ice.
“In view of the coronavirus outbreak, we are asking governments to suspend the introduction of new flight taxes. New taxes put extra pressure on us, for example in France and the Netherlands,” Smith told the summit.
“All these taxes are imposed in the name of sustainability but the money is not being earmarked for that. It’s not truthful, it’s deceptive,” he added.
A €7 levy on passenger travel is due to come into force in the Netherlands in 2021, as well as extra charges for cargo. Government estimates predict that the tax could net €200 million per year.
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EurActiv, 4 Mar 2020: Delay aviation tax because of coronavirus, says airline boss
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