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AVIATION DUTY WILL HIT AIRPORT EXPANSION |
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 11th October 2007
Gloucestershire Airport and Bristol Airport hopes for expansion plans now in doubt
The Gloucestershire Green Parties believe the Government’s new aviation duty will help curb plans for expansion of Staverton and Bristol airports. Since aviation fuel is not taxed, cheap flights have become the fastest growing source of carbon dioxide emissions in Europe. The rise in Air Passenger Duty was a small step in the right direction, but charges on aircraft emissions will also increase the cost of flights.
Philip Booth, a spokesperson for Gloucestershire Green parties and a Stroud District councillor comments: “Gloucestershire Green Parties welcome the modest first steps the Government is making towards cutting aviation emissions. But it does need to take much more drastic action to halt airport expansion and cut flights. The Green Party advocates a £100 tax on internal flights to push people to use rail for long journeys within the UK."
Philip Booth said: “If aviation emissions are shared across households, then each UK household is making about one third of its carbon emissions by the flights its members take. Even more surprising, the UK is top for aviation emissions per adult far ahead of the USA and other rich countries. Currently, each UK adult averages about 603 kg of carbon emissions from aviation use per year whilst the US average is only 275 kg per adult per year (i)."
Philip Booth added: “Domestic tourism and rail travel to the continent can substitute for flights, helping to boost our tourism revenues. Gloucestershire Green Parties want an end to expansion plans of airports like Staverton and Bristol - they make no sense economically, environmentally or indeed in any way you look at them. This move by the Government must only be the first step towards reducing subsidies to aviation and making them pay the real costs of their flights. Let us not forget that we can expect substantial oil price rises in coming years as oil reserves are squeezed: this will also impact on aviation prices and make it even more absurd to be talking about expanding aviation now.”
Notes:
(i) Evidence collected by market research company Global TGI.
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