BAA looks to do away with air passenger duty
The British Airports Authority is to call on the Government to end passenger duty and to force dirty air polluters to make up the lost tax deficit.
The operator of seven UK airports will proffer a report to ministers, itself a response to draft proposals by the Treasury and the Department for Transport, which will insist that airlines should carry the cost of pollution.
BAA will encourage the Government to force airlines to pay higher landing charges if their aircrafts cause environmental damage.
Air passenger duty should go, BAA will say. This is a duty levied on all departing passengers and ranges from 5-40 pounds. It is too blunt a tool to wield, BAA will say.
The operator of large terminals Heathrow Gatwick and Stansted will send out advice, which will form part of the Air Transport White Paper to be published later this year.
“Smart instruments” could also be deployed to press airlines to shed older, less clean aircraft.
The White Paper will charter the Government’s “sustainable” aviation policy over the next three decades.
BAA’s report will argue: “Charges related to aircraft emissions … may encourage the faster take-up of lower-emissions technology and provide a clear incentive to airlines to accelerate the replacement of older aircraft with more modern, cleaner aircraft.”
