Aviation groups say that the Dutch government’s increase air ticket tax, the second such rise, threatens connectivity, passenger interests, and aviation decarbonisation efforts. A4E and ACI EUROPE have urged government support for sustainable aviation fuel and infrastructure to achieve environmental goals without penalising consumers.
The tax hike makes the Netherlands less attractive for business and tourism, potentially driving travellers to other destinations. Aviation contributes 3pc to Dutch GDP and employs over 400,000 people, but high taxes erode Amsterdam Schiphol’s competitiveness as a hub. Taxes divert resources from investments needed for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a goal set by ACI EUROPE members in 2019.
Ourania Georgoutsakou of A4E shared: “Time and time again, these unjustified tax rises have been shown to serve neither the passenger nor the climate. It simply makes the Netherlands less attractive as a place for business and tourism: passengers continue to travel, but to another destination.”
Olivier Jankovec shared: “Raising aviation taxes is the textbook example of short‑term political thinking. Ticket taxes harm the benefits that airports provide for citizens and national economies. Crucially, taxing aviation diverts resources away from the massive investments required to achieve net‑zero. What we need is government support to accelerate this transition, not policies that weaken the sector and penalise consumers.”
