European airlines (A4E) and airports (ACI EUROPE) warned that the Dutch government’s decision to further increase its already high air ticket tax will undermine connectivity, hurt passengers, and weaken investment in aviation decarbonisation. This heavier tax load is the second such rise on top of an existing fee levied on consumer air travel.
Ourania Georgoutsakou, A4E Managing Director: “Time and time again, these unjustified tax rises have been shown to serve neither the passenger nor the climate. It simply makes the Netherlands less attractive as a place for business and tourism: passengers continue to travel, but to another destination.”
Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE: “Raising aviation taxes is the textbook example of short-term political thinking. Ticket taxes harm the benefits that airports provide for citizens and national economies. Crucially, taxing aviation diverts resources away from the massive investments required to achieve net-zero. What we need is government support to accelerate this transition, not policies that weaken the sector and penalise consumers.”
Notes to editors
The airline industry makes a substantial contribution to the Dutch economy, accounting for 3% of GDP and employing over 400,000 people (ACI EUROPE, 2024).
Aviation taxes in the Netherlands are already among the highest in Europe, further eroding its competitiveness as a hub for air travel and connectivity. According to the Airport Industry Connectivity Report, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol still lags its pre-pandemic levels of connectivity.
Media contacts
A4E
Ben Kennard
Communications Director
Email: ben.kennard@a4e.eu
Phone: +32 485 88 66 44
Agata Lyznik, Director of Communications & Media, ACI EUROPE
Tel: +32 494 58 69 75
Email: agata.lyznik@aci-europe.org
