The exact amount of the flight tax is still being determined, but people departing from Schiphol or another Dutch airport will pay flight tax on their flight ticket from 1 January 2021. The cabinet wants to make taxes greener in order to encourage people to make environmentally conscious choices. But also making the aviation sector more sustainable by flying cleaner with less CO₂emissions.

Currently flying internationally is not taxed with excise duty or VAT. This in contrast to the car, bus or train. This is an important reason for introducing an air passenger tax. In addition, this tax also contributes to reducing the price differences between, for example, airline tickets and train tickets. In many countries around the Netherlands there is already an air passenger tax. That is why the Netherlands is also looking for European cooperation.

The flight tax is expected to remain below € 7,50. The exact rate will only be determined in the Tax Plan 2021, because the rate has yet to be adjusted to inflation. Transfer passengers do not pay this tax. It was uncertain whether this would continue, due to the corona crisis and the consequences for the aviation sector. The flight tax was already included in the coalition agreement, but the cabinet still hoped for a European tax. Because this is taking too long, the bill for a national air passenger tax will come into effect.

Op freight traffic no flight tax applies for the time being. The fear is that, when introducing such a tax, companies will choose to transport their goods via neighboring countries. This would have negative consequences for Schiphol and Maastricht Aachen Airport.

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