Nigel Evans, Member of Parliament for the RibbleValley, has today warned that there must be fairness and proportionality when assessing whether there ought to be any further taxes on air travel. His comments come after the Committee on Climate Change has written to the Government advising that airlines should pay a larger proportion of the cost of environmental damage caused by air travel.

 Currently, industry experts predict that that the average passenger would pay less than £10 extra per return ticket when aviation joins the EU emissions trading scheme in 2012.

However, the Committee on Climate Change has argued that the EU trading scheme does not go far enough. Under the scheme, airlines will be given free carbon permits covering 85 per cent of their emissions and will have to buy permits for the remaining 15 per cent. The Committee suggests that airlines pay for all their emissions which would double the cost of air travel.

Mr Evans commented,

“Clearly airlines must contribute significantly towards the UK’s commitment to an 80 per cent cut in emissions by 2050. However, what is tantamount to a huge tax for the passenger to bear is not fair nor is it proportionate.

“To double the amount of an airline ticket, which airlines would have to do to survive, would mean that many people would simply not be able to afford to fly. That would take us back to a time when only the rich will be able to travel by air. The higher prices would exclude large families, students and those who live in areas, such as the North West, where salaries are lower than in London.

“As it stands, entering the EU trading scheme seems to strike the right balance with airlines meeting their obligations without passengers being punished. In this instance, the Government should not be swayed and should resist all calls for what would be a grossly unfair aviation tax.

“We ought to be looking at schemes whereby airlines are encouraged to overhaul their fleets with newer, environmentally friendly airplanes with more fuel efficient engines. This would not only make air travel more environmentally friendly but would also boost UK engineering companies.”