Press Release: Aviation fuel taxation: Commission calls for rapid adoption of energy tax proposal

The taxation of air travel should be more closely aligned on the environmental costs of air travel, according to a Communication adopted by the European Commission. It therefore recommends that a 1997 proposal for a Directive on the taxation of energy products should be adopted by the EU's Council of Ministers as soon as possible so as to permit Member States to levy taxes on commercial aviation fuel used on domestic flights, and subject to bi-lateral Air Service Agreements (ASAs), on flights between Member States (both EU and non-EU carriers).