Proposal: Put Frequent Fliers in a Higher Tax Bracket
Jackie Reddy September 30, 2019
According to information released by England’s Department for Transport (DfT), just 1% of the nation’s residents are accountable for almost a fifth of overseas flights. These stats were released as support for a “frequent flyer levy” grows in some quarters to help combat carbon emissions.
A research survey from England’s Department for Transport (DfT) has revealed that a mere 1% of the nation’s residents are accountable for almost a fifth of overseas flights, The Guardian reports.
These statistics were released as part of a survey from the DfT, which also reveals that the top 10% of frequent air travelers were also accountable for over half of all the international flights taken in 2018. On the flip side, these figures also reveal that 48% of the population of England didn’t fly overseas at all.
According to the outlet, the figures come from a 2018 National Transport Survey that included responses from 15,000 residents in England.
As the outlet observes, these statistics have helped to reinforce support for a so-called “frequent flyer levy”, a piece of legislation that would see frequent air passengers face incrementally higher taxes per flight taken.
The findings come as the United Kingdom considers tough measures in order to reduce its carbon emissions. This drive is being led by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), which is serving as an advising body to the UK government on the subject.
While various action groups and bodies have voiced their support for this kind of levy, it’s not exactly clear what method the country will use to cut its emissions.
Offering their comments to the outlet, a DfT spokesperson said, “Tackling climate change is one of the most urgent and pressing challenges that we face. Which is why this government has set a bold 2050 net-zero target for the UK and a greener aviation industry will play a key role in that.”
“The government is funding the future of flight and have announced £5m ($6.2m) in funding for new technologies like electric and autonomous aircraft to help us tackle climate change. We are working with our partners to ensure the government takes a leading role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation sector,” the added.
[Featured Image: Shutterstock]
@jjmore Let me see if I get it right. We “need to stop blindly trusting hugely biased sources of information”. Ok, what kind of data have you got that prove you are right? Thanks.
Depends how it's taxed....I shall continue ex EU for long haul.
Just tax the fuels and everyone who uses it will have to pay more... we already do that so if governments really want to tax frequent travellers more they just need to increase that tax.
According to this article https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/12/want-to-fight-climate-change-have-fewer-children I save 111.34 tons of CO2 every year since I have 0 kids. (58.6 tons * avg number of 1.9 kids.) I think I deserve a big honking tax credit.
FlyerTalk used to be a forum where people who flew often, largely for business, could exchange information about how to make that travel somewhat less onerous. FT has devolved into a clickbait destination attracting fringe from Reddit, with "articles" basically cut and pasted from press releases and newspapers. Kind of what like flying itself has become.