Denmark’s plan to introduce a tax on departing passengers from Danish airports has been criticised by ACI Europe.
The tax is said to be primarily used to fund the welfare system rather than promoting the greening of Danish aviation. This initiative is believed to harm the competitive position of Danish airports and hinder their ability to finance their decarbonisation plans.
ACI Europe said Danish airports, such as Aarhus, Billund, Copenhagen, and Roskilde, are leading the industry in decarbonisation efforts. These airports aim to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2030. ACI Europe believes that the proposed tax will divert much-needed financial resources away from the aviation sector, making it harder for the industry to meet its ambitious decarbonisation goals.
The organization emphasizes the existing regulatory framework in place through the EU’s Fit for 55 package, which aims to decarbonize the aviation sector through initiatives like tightening the Emission Trading Scheme and promoting Sustainable Aviation Fuels. ACI Europe argues that new taxes are not the solution and instead calls for more financial support to meet the substantial investments required by the aviation ecosystem, estimated to be around €820 billion by 2050.
ACI Europe also raises concerns about the tax’s impact on Denmark’s air connectivity and economy. As air connectivity in Denmark is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, adding costs to air travel could hinder further progress in the full recovery and development of connectivity in the country.
