Germany implements air passenger tax
Posted: Tue 21 Dec, 2010 12:00 PM
Germany s new air passenger tax raises concerns and is deemed to hurt the country s outbound tourism industry. The new air passenger taxes will cost EU8 for short haul, EU25 for mid-range, and EU45 for long-haul trips. It was put in place to raise EU1-billion each year and will be implemented to all airline departures from Germany starting January 1, 2011.
World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) are strongly against these passenger taxes. Giovanni Bisignani, IATA director general, was quoted in TTR Weekly as having said that the passenger tax is the worst kind of short-sighted policy irresponsibility and a cash grab and inappropriate at a time of economic hardship.
United Kingdom, France, Malta, Denmark and Belgium also implement similar taxes but only United Kingdom and France were able to continue its implementation and maintain steady collection.
