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'Aviation Must Pay Its Way' - Minister

04 Nov 2002

Let’s see some action says FOE

Friends of the Earth today challenged Transport Minister John Spellar to act after he told a London conference that “a key part of sustainability must be that ‘aviation pays its way’”.

Friends of the Earth has welcomed recognition from Mr Spellar that the aviation industry is not paying its way, and has called on him to delay the public consultation on possible airport expansion plans until measures are put in place to ensure that it does. It has been estimated that tax exemptions, subsidies and other financial assistance are worth almost £8 billion to the aviation industry. These include:

• no tax on aviation fuel,
• no VAT on air travel,
• income from duty-free sales,
• a level of Air Passenger Duty that does not properly cover ‘external costs’.

Friends of the Earth’s Aviation Campaigner Paul de Zylva said:
“The aviation industry does not pay for the massive damage it causes to local communities and the environment. It doesn’t pay any tax on fuel, is exempt from air pollution regulations and is doing precious little to reduce its emissions of climate changing gases. We welcome the Minister’s recognition of the unfair treatment given to the aviation industry and call on him to postpone the Government’s airports consultation until this issue is properly addressed.”

A more detailed critique of Mr Spellar’s speech is available from FOE

More Information can be found at www.airportwatch.org.uk

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