Airline taxes: Held aloft

Cash-strapped governments and environmentalists have talked for years about taxing airlines. But airline companies – unlike other polluting industries – have skilfully lobbied themselves free of the burden, helped by the myriad international treaties that govern the industry. Now that escape hatch looks to be closing. Eurocrats want airlines to pay for the pollution they cause. As this would raise the cost of all flights within, into and out of Europe, the implications are potentially far-reachi...