APD: Cameron Adopts LibDems “Tax Planes not Passengers” Approach

1056: Airlines may be in for a bit of a shock, says the BBC’s business editor Robert Peston, because the Lib Dem policy of taxing planes rather than passengers has been adopted by David Cameron.

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How will this work in practice, especially on longer complex itineraries? Seems they are looking to raise an additional £3.3bn, and it will be targetted to routes on which alternative less polluting options are available.

More info here (can’t cut and paste), about half way down:

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/vote_2010/factcheck+lib+dem+manifesto+in+focus/3612992

I wonder how this will affect private jets?

Yes I have heard of the biometric passport (the one with the chip in them) but I was really talking about “next generation” biometric passport as I hadn’t heard of any plans to change the existing biometric passport.

Will this mean a return back to IRIS use, I wonder?

I still think the jury is out on this policy; not entirely sure it won’t be a less than simple way of doing things.

Would probably be better to move towards an individual carbon passport, rather like a frequent flyer scheme, where you are permitted a certain level of flying for free (eg enough for a family holiday or two) and thereafter you accrue financial penalties according to the number of flights flown.

And still they don’t tax ferries – which is daft as they can often be even more polluting than aircraft.

Will have a chat with Dave and see what he thinks.