CHANGE OF UK GOVERNMENT, CHANGE IN POLICY

It has already been announced by the new coalition government that the third runway at LHR has been scrapped and that the individual passenger environmental tax will be scrapped in favour of an airliner tax. This will be a tax on the aeroplane regardless of how many passengers will be on board. It will be a certain amount for a 757, a different amount for a 777 and a different amount for whatever type it may be dependant upon the size of the airliners carbon footprint so the newer, cleaner fuel efficient aircraft will pay less than the older types such as 733, 734 and MD80.

I still object to this tax as I don't have to pay such a tax when I travel by ferry or train or bus most of which are a lot dirtier than aircraft. The other anomaly I see is that Cargo Aircraft don't have to pay this tax which proves that the environment means diddly squat to the government but it is only another way of raising additional revenue.

What about The Queens Flight BAe. 146 aircraft will they have to pay ? NO What about the BA 777 the Government charter for their VIP flight to wherever, do they pay ? NO

WHY WHY WHY is the airline industry hammered all the time with tax for this and that and the other.

I'm no environmentalist nutter, but I'm all in favour of reducing dependence upon foreign (i.e. Muslim) oil, so I think an eco-tax on airliners could be a good thing. [Although a tax CREDIT for airlines who purchase newer, more fuel efficient airliners would be even better...] It may encourage airlines to replace their petrol-guzzling older models with fuel efficient newer ones. There is a similar programme here in California...older, inefficient cars pay higher registration fees while people who buy low-mileage and hybrid cars pay lower registration fees, are exempt from some highway tolls and get state income tax credits.