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France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall

reuters.com

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Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall

#71

Post by benj111 »

cameronbrown wrote: post #10

I don't really understand what the purpose of this tax is. There's no alternative to burning fuel by energy density on an airline, so why go after flights? What do they expect them to do? If you're taxing petrol cars you'd expect electric cars to become more economically viable. Either way I disagree with carbon taxes. They're regressive, and ignore the fact that regular people are being badly hurt by them whereas th…

Why is it regressive?

You don't need to fly in western Europe, and anyway the charge increases for more expensive classes.

I'm not even sure that carbon taxes overall are regressive. Can't afford a car? Your transport is lower carbon. Drive a small car because you cant afford a large one? Your transport is lower carbon. Cant afford air con, cant afford heating, a new phone every year...

Yes there are edge cases, not being able to afford insulation, an energy efficient fridge or car or whatever but I would guess your average poor person has a lower carbon footprint than your average rich person.

Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall

#72

Post by toomuchtodo »

theDevill wrote: post #56

Why are Americans so obsessed with religion, devil and sins?! Taxes exist to capture money and finance the externalities that are ignored by corporations. If corporations were more responsible countries would not have to tax these issues. In this case France is using the money to improve an already pretty good rail system. Compare this to the US and the California train line?

Taxes also exist to incentivize desired behavior.

See: Solar, EV tax credits

Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall

#73

Post by balthasar »

rdtsc wrote: post #41

I've flown through a French airport once - Paris Charles de Gaulle and since have gone out of my way to not fly through it again. It was a hot mess. They lost the luggage, it was hard to find gates, parts of it looked outdated, customer service sucked. A year after, the ceiling at its _new_ terminal collapsed killing several people ( https://www.thoughtco.com/charles-de-gaulle-airport-terminal... ). Maybe it was just…

I think yelp is another site.

Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall

#74

Post by lm28469 »

skocznymroczny wrote: post #25
mattnewton wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they expect people to fly less; similar to many other “sin” taxes like those on alcohol or tobacco.

What's the alternative to flying?

Let's not fool anyone here, europe is plagued with low cost airline companies, the vast majority of flights are for leisure. The alternative to slowly destroying the world for leisure related flights is to not travel.

I can buy TWO berlinmallorca round trips for the same price as a single taxi trip from berlin to the airport.

https://www.google.com/flights?hl=en#flt=/m/0156q./m/0jwz5.2...

Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall

#75

Post by homonculus1 »

mamon wrote: post #29
buboard wrote: post #12

It's nice how you can rename any tax to an "eco tax" and suddenly everyone's delighted. Kudos for the social engineering. (there is absolutely no indication that this will somehow help the environment. I 'm heavily against flying , but i m also appalled by the level of gullibility here)

Ecology is a new religion, except instead of Apocalypse they have Global Warming, and instead of sin they have "carbon footprint".

And instead of a bible, we have evidence ;)

Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall

#76

Post by tin7in »

cameronbrown wrote: post #10

I don't really understand what the purpose of this tax is. There's no alternative to burning fuel by energy density on an airline, so why go after flights? What do they expect them to do? If you're taxing petrol cars you'd expect electric cars to become more economically viable. Either way I disagree with carbon taxes. They're regressive, and ignore the fact that regular people are being badly hurt by them whereas th…

> There's no alternative to burning fuel by energy density on an airline, so why go after flights?

It is still very early but there are projects working on electric flight.

Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall

#77

Post by Kurtz79 »

C1sc0cat wrote: post #17
Kurtz79 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? The protest that originated "gilets jaunes" was because the increase in gasoline price would affect low wage workers for which their car was one of the main tools for their job. I cannot imagine many low wage workers that depend on international flights to take home some bread...

I think the powerful french farming lobby had more to do with it

Regardless of the origin, it was a clearly a protest that resonated with a significant part of society.

I find it hard to compare with a tax that will mostly affect people flying abroad for tourism and expenses-paid business travelers.

Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall

#78

Post by nerdponx »

theDevill wrote: post #56

Why are Americans so obsessed with religion, devil and sins?! Taxes exist to capture money and finance the externalities that are ignored by corporations. If corporations were more responsible countries would not have to tax these issues. In this case France is using the money to improve an already pretty good rail system. Compare this to the US and the California train line?

It's just a colorful name.

A sin tax is nothing more than an opinionated Pigouvian tax.

Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall

#79

Post by TuringNYC »

theDevill wrote: post #56

Why are Americans so obsessed with religion, devil and sins?! Taxes exist to capture money and finance the externalities that are ignored by corporations. If corporations were more responsible countries would not have to tax these issues. In this case France is using the money to improve an already pretty good rail system. Compare this to the US and the California train line?

"Sin Taxes" are not meant to literally tax sins but to tax behaviours with negative consequences that where the price is ultimately bourne by society. For example, the cost of second hand smoke is bourne by others, and when they get sick, many times by taxpayers. The cost of alcohol is partly bourne by a variety of parties.

"Sin Taxes" are not meant to discourage literal sins but to discourage such activities with external costs. Many argue sugar should also be added to the list of "sins" though of course it is not Biblically a sin.

Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall

#80

Post by seszett »

C1sc0cat wrote: post #17
Kurtz79 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? The protest that originated "gilets jaunes" was because the increase in gasoline price would affect low wage workers for which their car was one of the main tools for their job. I cannot imagine many low wage workers that depend on international flights to take home some bread...

I think the powerful french farming lobby had more to do with it

It's the first time I hear that, and that would be quite surprising since farmers do not pay taxes on the diesel they use.
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