FDP Calls for Abolition of Air Passenger Tax
Berlin, January 7, 2025 (hib) – The Free Democratic Party (FDP) is demanding the abolition of the air passenger tax. In a motion submitted to the Bundestag, the FDP argues that the tax is an “unfair additional burden” on air travelers and damages the competitiveness of the aviation industry.
According to the FDP, the air passenger tax is particularly burdensome for families, low-income earners, and people living in rural areas. The tax disproportionately affects domestic flights, as it is not levied on flights to destinations outside the European Union. This, the FDP argues, creates a competitive disadvantage for German airlines and discourages travel within Germany.
The FDP also claims that the tax has failed to achieve its intended environmental goals. The party points out that the tax has had a negligible impact on the number of air passengers, and that the revenue generated by the tax has not been used to fund environmental measures.
The air passenger tax was introduced in 2011 as part of a package of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The tax is levied on all passengers departing from German airports, with the revenue being used to fund climate protection projects.
The FDP’s proposal to abolish the air passenger tax has been met with mixed reactions. The environmental organization Greenpeace has criticized the proposal, arguing that it would undermine efforts to reduce air pollution and climate change. However, the Association of German Airlines (BDL) has welcomed the proposal, saying that it would boost the competitiveness of the German aviation industry.
The Bundestag is expected to debate the FDP’s motion in the coming weeks. It is unclear whether the motion will be passed, as the governing coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Green Party, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) has not yet taken a position on the issue.
FDP fordert Abschaffung der Luftverkehrssteuer
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