ATA applauds Belgian's decision to drop air ticket tax.
Press Release Summary:
In speech delivered to European Aviation Club and also in meetings with government officials, ATA President and CEO, James C. May, said that Belgian government's air ticket tax proposal was fashioned as environmental measure, but that none of the funds collected would have gone to environmental projects. Taxes ultimately would have interfered with investment in more fuel-efficient and greenhouse gas-efficient technologies.
Original Press Release:
Air Transport Association Applauds Belgian Government Decision to Drop Air Ticket Tax
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2008 - The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade association for the leading U.S. airlines, today responded to the decision by the Belgian government to drop their proposed air ticket tax.
In a speech delivered last week to the European Aviation Club and also in meetings with government officials, ATA President and CEO James C. May said that the air ticket tax proposal regrettably was fashioned as an 'environmental measure,' but that none of the funds collected would have gone to environmental projects. "It would have been an enormous mistake to invoke this tax scheme on airline passengers. The taxes ultimately would have interfered with investment in more fuel-efficient and greenhouse gas-efficient technologies," said May. "I am pleased that the Belgian government has made the right decision in dropping their air ticket tax."
ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For additional information about the industry, visit www.airlines.org.
CONTACT:
David Castelveter
202-626-4033
Victoria Day
202-626-4141
