Of course, additional environmental taxes have been going on for some time. European governments that have subsidized their “own” airlines during the pandemic – often with billions – have made it clear that this will not be without return.
So Air France canceled a number of short domestic flights in favor of TGV connections. Other airlines have committed to reducing their emissions by up to 50 percent over the next decade.
However, the Portuguese emissions tax is fully borne by the passengers. The tax, now introduced last February, was approved by the Portuguese government in order to meet short-term environmental goals.
The Netherlands has already made progress on Frans Timmermans’ European Green Deal (PvdA). From January 1, 2021, all departing passengers will pay 7.45 euros to the Dutch state to offset carbon dioxide emissions. France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Austria, Norway, and Sweden also impose similar taxes.
The green deal is expected to raise a lot of resistance. Airlines will likely struggle against a kerosene tax, which could make tickets up to 19 percent more expensive as early as 2023.
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