Airline fuels climate change debate (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Airline fuels climate change debate

9:23am Friday 27th October 2006 in News By Alex Lewis

NO-FRILLS airline EasyJet, which flys millions of people to Europe from Luton Airport every year, has hit back at environmentalists trying to curb the industry's growth.

A report published last week by Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute called for new taxes to combat the inexorable rise in air travel which is contributing to climate change through emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases.

But, in a statement issued the very same day, EasyJet, which is based at Luton Airport, launched a fight-back against the prospect of new taxes which could devastate its business.

A company spokesman said: "It is clear airlines have their part to play in safeguarding the environment, but it is important to put this into perspective - the European Commission's own calculations confirm that aviation accounts for just three per cent of carbon dioxide emissions in Europe.

"EasyJet takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and as a result the airline is one of the world's most environmentally-efficient airlines.

"EasyJet flies brand new, quiet and fuel efficient aircraft using the latest technology.

"With its point to point network and some of the highest load factors in the industry, no resources are wasted and every aspect of the business is efficient.

"Calling for greater taxation on air travel is sloppy thinking and risks damaging the European economy as a whole - 3.1 million jobs and 221bn of GDP gross domestic product in the EU are dependent upon aviation, accounting for eight per of cent Europe's GDP.

"Aviation is also a key driver for integration with the new member states.

"Taxation is a blunt instrument that will only put more money into the pockets of governments, whilst discriminating against the poorest in society, who until recently were priced out of the sky. Crucially, and most importantly, it does not benefit the environment."

But the institute's report says the problem of aviation emissions is particularly acute for Britain, with a fifth of the world's international passengers either entering or leaving the country.

Aviation produces six per cent of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions, with the overall impact significantly greater, as airlines produce large quantities of other harmful gases.

If the industry grows as forecasted, by 2030 emissions could increase by ten times from 1990, the base year for the Kyoto Protocol, the international agreement to restrict emissions.

But the Government has so far been extremely reluctant to act to discourage air travel.

The report confronts head on claims that air travel taxes would penalise the poor.

It says: "Much of the recent growth in air travel has occurred because richer people are flying more often and it seems likely that much of future demand would also be generated in this way."

It argues that many poorer people can not afford a holiday in any case unless they are staying with friends or relatives.

The report says that with aviation fuel tax-free, and air tickets and aeroplane components exempt from VAT, the industry enjoys a £9 billion a year subsidy.

It accepts taxes on aviation fuel would be easy to evade unless other countries agreed to do the same, as airlines would simply fill up overseas, and calls instead for big increases in air passenger duty.

The report claims an increase in ticket costs of ten per cent would cut demand for flights by a similar figure.

Marc Scheimann, of St Albans Green Party, said: "Just because we can fly, it doesn't mean we should.

"The massive expansion of Stansted and Luton airports, which will have a severe effect on St Albans, will only make the problem even worse.

"The subsidy given to the aviation industry is ridiculous. EasyJet are trying to justify themselves.

"They are saying it is all the fault of the big companies, but the massive expansion of flights has been caused by cheap tickets like theirs.

"We have all got to take responsibility for our own actions."