Germany confirms new environmental tax on passengers

I am a passenger and I will pay the fee more than happily if translates in ecological measure meant to reduce carbon emissions. It hsould implemented across Europe. We have to understand that if we pollute we have to pay. It may mean the loss of jobs...but if we do not do anything it will have a even worse impact in the econ0my in the long run

AL..This is big government greed, pure & simple and will further harm the airline industry. Now that it's been proven that "Global Warming" is a leftist hoax, there is little need to continue these types of confiscatory taxes!

The German government calls it a "ecological air travel levy", but it seems it will be used to prop up the "nation's shaky financial situation"; if that is the case, then the government is extremely hypocritical. Couldn't the airlines -as well as passengers, band together to ensure the government uses the revenue for environment improvement purposes, or otherwise kill this tax grab?

Wow - another foolish tax on air travel. Yes, I will avoid Germany - AMS and Schiphol airport are superb anyway and now without having to pay and extra $50 why would I go to FRA/DUS/MUC??? Danke-Schoein and Auf Weiderschein!

Looks like I'll be connecting via other cities in Europe other than in Germany.

There is really NOTHING green about this tax ... All the proceeds are generated in order to flow into Germany's budget coffers. If ever someone has read the smallprint and discovered that Germany will allocate these new financial ressources to (green) research and development, please speak up. I did not find it.

If you read carefully, the proceeds from the new tax are to alleviate the deep German fiscal crisis. There is no provision anywhere in that law that states it will be used for environmental improvements whatsoever.
I know that I will be rescheduling my stops to bypass German airports.
Totally agree with KV posting.

I totally agree with this comment. Governments always find the way to make the airlines become their tax collectors without any consideration about the effect of that roll on their own (damaged) economies. In that case, I see a big amount of hypocrisy for calling this an Environmental tax when is made (as mentioned in the article) "to alleviate the nation's shaky fiscal situation" and the funds will never be used on "environmental causes"

Isn't it strange, while the German Government were enlightened first movers in the down-turn with their 'cash for clunkers' initiative for their automobile industry, that when it comes to aviation they do the opposite. With a 'green tingend shroud' they unilterally impose another tax on an industry that labours under a huge burden - utterly oblivious to the economic leakages these taxes create. The UK Government suffers the same shortsightedness. We must hope that other governments are more enlightened.

Auf Wiedersehen, Germany! You will not fix the environment with this! It is only for your greed for some new form of revenue to pay your debts. What next? A church tax? Oh wait, you already have that one! I'll be flying in/out of another country! Danke!

you commenters... you can still connect through germany without having to pay the tax, it's only for passengers departing from Germany (incl. return flt departures).

As Jeremy Clarkson pointed out in 2007 the 'EarthSave' organisation reported the blindingly obvious, the gas Methane which cows emit [in two senses of that word] is 21 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

In consequence farmed animals are doing more damage to the environment than all the world’s transport and power stations put together.

Will the German Government tax their farmers, or abolish dairy farming? I think not!

If the voter reacts to this tax on their travel masquerading as eco friendly then a real outcome will be achieved.

I think governments believe people will accept these "green" taxes because everyone wants to be seen as environmentally conscious. But this is nothing more than a gouge on airline travelers. In general, you tax things you wish to discourage - cigarettes for example. This tax will have the same effect. People will certainly avoid long flights out of Germany, and Frankfurt will feel the loss.

Fuel Taxes already impose a levy. This is a tax on a tax to simply grab more revenue for the government. It does nothing to make aviation "cleaner." Fuel taxes are a consumption tax and highly proportional to the environmental effect of fuel use.

Goodby germany,hello spain & italy.I have avoided the uk for years and now add the peoples republic of germany.

You seem to be a typical "kraut" from the DDR and not a reaso-nable and brain-using citicen of deutschland.

Wanninger