ACI Media Press Release Archives (2006)

ACI has joined with other industry stakeholders at ICAO for many years in opposing any taxes that do not directly contribute to the aviation industry’s future growth and stability. ACI opposes all government taxation on air transport that may create impediments to the development of international travel and trade. The organisation is extremely concerned over the proliferation of taxes imposed on international air transport, in particular taxes imposed solely on air transport and used for non-aviation purposes. ACI can only accept those taxes that are justified, equitable, non-discriminatory and in accordance with ICAO resolutions. Meeting with airport operators and industry representatives in Abu Dhabi at an ACI conference on airport service excellence, Aaronson says, “This tax simply does not make sense. The aviation industry is one of the foremost contributors to economic growth in developing nations. Additional taxes will only serve to dampen the strong traffic growth that was witnessed in Africa in 2005.” “In the past four years business and leisure travellers have been hit by the cost of new security measures and steeply rising fuel costs. If governments now add unjustified taxes on top, we will watch the traffic numbers dwindle. That is not in the interest of developing nations. That is not a long-term solution.” Aaronson concludes, “Air transport is a recognised driver of local, regional and national development. By stimulating the travel and tourism sector as well as foreign investment, air transport helps nations to seize new business opportunities and develop their human and natural resources. We must continue to focus on these long-term benefits and aviation’s proven contribution to economic advancement".

Notes to Editors:

1. The proposal was made in a speech by French President Jacques Chirac at the Ministerial Conference on Innovative Taxation to Fund Development in Paris.

 2. ICAO Policies on Taxation in the Field of International Air Transport – Doc. 8632

3. Reference work: The Economic & Social Benefits of Air Transport, based on a study by Oxford Economic Forecasting (OEF) and commissioned by ATAG which is an independent coalition of air transport industry organizations and companies.

4. ACI is the only worldwide professional association of airports. ACI membership consists of 569 international airport operators and airport authorities, who manage over 1600 airports in 177 countries and territories. The primary mission of ACI is to represent airport interests and to foster cooperation among the member airports and with other partners in world aviation.

5. For further information, please contact ACI Communications Manager Nancy Gautier, by email ngautier@aci.aero or by telephone 41 22 717 8562.