What is aviation fuel tax?
What is aviation fuel tax
Fuel tax is levied on vehicles and trains when they are refueled, however, it does not apply to air travel. This exemption from tax burden is unique to the aviation industry compared to other modes of transportation.
However, environmental activists argue for the immediate implementation of aviation fuel taxes, citing the significant carbon emissions linked to flying.
What is the definition of fuel tax and how does it operate?
The government imposes a fuel tax on the sale of transportation fuels like gasoline and diesel. However, the specific rate of this tax varies from one country to another.
If you own a car, you are likely already familiar with paying a significant portion of tax when refueling. In the European Union, the average fuel tax on a gallon of diesel is approximately $1.76 (€1.6), whereas in the United States, it is around $0.60 (€0.55). In theory, this tax can generate revenue that authorities can invest in developing road and railway infrastructure or promoting more environmentally friendly public transportation. However, the actual implementation of these investments varies.
Unlike fuels used for road and rail transportation, kerosene, which powers aircraft, is exempt from taxation on all international flights worldwide. The United Nations established the Chicago Convention, an international treaty in 1944, granting this privileged exemption. The purpose of this treaty was to support the emerging aviation industry by relieving airlines from the burden of potential double taxation. As a result, fuel onboard an aircraft is not subject to taxation in the country where it lands.
In many cases, this exemption translates to no fuel tax at all. For instance, the European Union prohibits the imposition of fuel tax on international flights departing from member countries. Although the EU allows for taxation on domestic flights, no member states have currently implemented such measures.
Last year, Germany faced criticism from the aviation industry when it proposed a kerosene tax on domestic flights. An increased ticket tax promptly replaced the proposed tax.
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What impact would be implementing a tax on air travel have?
With the aviation industry currently accounting for 2% of global energy-related emissions each year, reducing air travel would help slow down the rise in temperature that is contributing to climate change. Nevertheless, the growing demand for flying is anticipated to drive an increase, with some estimates projecting a tripling of emissions by 2050.
Advocates of an aviation fuel tax argue that it could serve as a deterrent, making people reconsider their travel habits and frequency. Additionally, they believe that such a tax would generate significant revenue that could be used to transition to a decarbonized economy.
Considering that just 1% of the world’s population is responsible for over half of aviation emissions, a fuel tax that increases ticket prices for affluent frequent flyers would ensure that those who contribute the most to pollution also bear the financial burden of their environmental impact.
Assessing the Likelihood of Introducing an Aviation Fuel Tax
Could the implementation of an aviation fuel tax be a possibility? According to environmental campaigners, the absence of a fuel tax, which would result in higher plane ticket prices, will lead to the continuous growth of air traffic and the emissions it produces. Furthermore, it provides little motivation for the industry to invest in technologies like clean fuels or zero-emission aircraft.
However, there are indications that the movement towards aviation fuel taxes is gaining traction. In the United States, Democratic politicians Senator Edward Markey and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez have introduced legislation to increase fuel taxes on private jets, which emit up to 14 times more pollution per passenger compared to commercial flights. Meanwhile, in Europe, the EU’s climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra has suggested a global tax on kerosene.
