The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the decision by the Dutch government to abolish the recently introduced departure tax as part of its economic stimulus package.
The tax added a cost of between 11.25 and 45 euros for every passenger departing from Dutch airports.
โThe tax was a EUR 312 million competitive disadvantage for the Dutch economy. Aviation is an important catalyst for the Dutch economy. Abolishing the departure tax was the right decisionโฆ It will provide an economic boost in this crisis and help build a competitive future,โ said IATA director general Giovanni Bisignani.
He added, โThis is just the tip of the iceberg. Airlines saw US$6.9 billion in crazy new taxation last year. This is producing all the wrong results — dampening demand and adding costs for businesses. This collective madness must stop. It is time for the Irish government to follow suit and repeal its new Air Travel Tax. And it is time for the UK to realize that its Air Passenger Duty is penalizing one of its most powerful economic catalysts at the same time that they are spending billions to bail out other failed industries.โ