{UK} Aviation tax switches to planes (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

Air taxes will be switched from individual passengers to airline flights to encourage more efficient use of planes.

The new tax will take effect from November 2009.

Chancellor Alistair Darling said the measure would help tackle climate change, one of the "two great challenges for this generation".

"I propose that aviation makes a greater contribution in respect of its environmental impact," he said.

The government is also launching a consultation on how to link the tax to the distance the flight is travelling.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7036384.stm

[phantom power]

1. Hmm. Or will it cause airlines to raise fares a bit to cover the difference?

[Nihil]

2. You've spotted the second flaw in the plan.

> Or will it cause airlines to raise fares a bit to cover the difference?

There hasn't been a tax so far that the airlines haven't passed straight
over to the customer (and that applies to all taxes of all nations).

The first flaw is that "the new tax will take effect from November 2009"
thus allowing plenty of time for the airlines to whinge and the politicians
to change their mind whilst still allowing them to maintain the facade that
they're doing something in the meantime.

:eyes:

[razzleberry]

3. (European) airlines will get their money back, thru rebates

any extra passenger charges, gravy