AVIATION EMISSIONS MUST BE TAXED MORE - HUHNE

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 23rd Jan 2007

Aviation is one of the most lightly taxed activities, despite the damage that its emissions cause

Commenting on the opposition to airline taxes by three leading airlines, whose representatives appeared before the Treasury Select Committee today, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

"Turkeys don't vote for Christmas, but the airlines have to recognise that aviation is one of the most lightly taxed activities, despite the damage that its CO2 emissions cause to the planet.

"A tax on the emissions of each flight, instead of Gordon Brown's duty per passenger, would provide a further incentive to invest in fuel efficient aircraft and to fill up seats rather than fly half empty.

"Any climate change plan that fails to include aviation would be fatally flawed, given its high growth. If flights go on growing at the current pace, we will not be able to emit carbon from any other activity by 2050."