As subsidies and taxes can be used to incentivize and disincentivize behavior, I’m happy about this. Flights have truly large ecologic costs, and flyers need to be aware of that, trying to minimize travel if not necessary. I’m particularly happy that it’s not a flat tax but based on ticket class.
France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall
31–40 of 578 posts
Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall
#32Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall
#33Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall
#34Because in France ecofascism is becoming the #1 religion thanks to leftist propaganda. Government uses that to increase taxes.
Oxfam says that the 10% richest account for 50% of air pollution. People that have enough money to travel by plane should have enough money to not destroy our environment.
Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall
#35Earlier 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?
Using another means of transport or doing without travel (eg conducting your business remotely, hiring someone local, etc )
Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall
#36Because in France ecofascism is becoming the #1 religion thanks to leftist propaganda. Government uses that to increase taxes.
Nice bingo:
* ecofascism, leftist, propaganda.
* account created a few minutes ago.
Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall
#37They say it will "help support the environment", which could mean through funding of greener initiatives, R&D or level the playing field (although the tax is really low/symbolic, in my opinion).
It makes sense to tax flights in order to subsidize rail for short-distance trips. I would have expected a higher tax on flights outside the EU, so that people change their habits (although then you need a carbon-tax sort of scheme, not to penalize low-income people who visit their family once a year).
Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall
#38This is simply rent seeking. It won't reduce flights, it's too small to incentivize any fuel efficiency changes, it's passed on to the consumer so it won't alter airline behavior, and while the article claims the revenue will go towards financing trains, it doesn't state how that will be implemented. Are they going to reduce fees on trains accordingly? Are they going to improve train efficiency? Are they going to build additional infrastructure? It's possible that they could do all these things and cause a tiny shift away from air travel toward less-polluting options, but it's more likely just another general tax revenue source that's politically easier to acquire because it's easy to demonize airlines. I'm not defending airlines; they pollute a lot. I just don't see how this helps.
Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall
#39Re: France to tax flights from its airports, airline shares fall
#40Because in France ecofascism is becoming the #1 religion thanks to leftist propaganda. Government uses that to increase taxes.
Do you have a working definition of fascism here or are you using it as something closer to "a bad politics thing"?
It means screwing off people and justifying with "we're saving the planet".