Taxes Taxes...

[Gassbag]

Is it me or did I catch the end of a news report stating that there will be a £20 'TAX' on low fare airline tickets?:hmm:

[ramsrc]

No, isn't you...

There is a rumour that airport tax will double.

The change will be announced either in Gordon Browns pre-budget speech or alternatively in the Governments aviation white paper.

More info here (http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2106905)

[AIRWAY]

Great :mad: more taxes :mad:

[avoman]

How I seethe to see our successful public transport service taxed more heavily to support the staggering subsidies required to operate our ever more useless railways

[akerosid]

It's appallingly misguided, of course. The motorways and roads are clogged, the railways aren't getting much better and the government is really trying to present this as a sop to the green lobby when all it really is, is an attempt to fill government coffers (probably to try and fix the railways).

If they are so concerned about the environment, why not answer this question? What is the most environmentally efficient way to move 180+ people. Can't tell them not to travel - so how about 180 cars? Diesel trains? Coaches? Get real. The efficiency and environmental friendliness of aircraft when compared to other forms of transport (there aren't many electric trains in the UK) is not bad and if they do want to improve, the way is not to tax airlines, it's to put money into research and provide financial incentives for airlines to use the most efficient engines - most do already.

One report commented that the aim was to try and stem the growth in low cost travel - as if it were a bad thing. How many jobs is that going to cost? Low cost is the way forward, whether the government - or the neo Luddites, greens or whatever they want to call themselves - likes it. If they want to go ahead with this nonsense, fine - the airlines will move out and other European countries will benefit.

Personally, I doubt if this will get through, but if it does, will be a disaster for airlines, jobs, transport generally and ultimately, the economy.

:* :mad: :(

[DFC]

Stem the growth in low cost airlines?

Not a chance. The low cost operators already clearly leave out the tax when advertising their low fares. Thus every passenger is well aware of the extra tax that the UK Government places on their travel.

Of course, the tax on ciggies is the only reason why less people smoke isn't it?

Regards,

DFC

[Neo]

Sounds like a good time to vote Tory. With all their scheming about the who's next to sup from the poison chalice they won't have time to think up new taxes, and they won't notice if we don't pay what the IR thinks we should!

Go on, you know it makes sense!

[Semaphore Sam]

All of us hate taxes. But...what industry has received most from the public trough? How many privately funded commercial airports exist? Private ATC? And, how 'bout that welfare boondoogle (poor pay for the rich, in this case; how many working stiffs paid for Sting & Joan Collins to save 3 hours per trip) to the tune of 34 billion, called the Concorde, and it's 1030's equivilent, the R101? Airbus subsidies from European countries, anyone? C'mon, people, at least be consistent. Kill taxes? Be careful, you may get what you want! Sam

Sorry- R101 was the 1930's, not 1030, although its technology resembled that of 1030, as proven by its maiden 'flight' to Egypt.