T: 020 7248 2227           E: info@airportwatch.org.uk 

Environmental group launches new report and calls for a night air freight tax

 

10.12.2009  (AirportWatch press release)
 
Launch of New Report:  "Air Freight: The Impacts"
 
AirportWatch, the umbrella body of organisations opposed to airport expansion, is calling for a Night Air Freight Tax.  The call comes on the day AirportWatch launches a major report on air freight (1).  The report, Air Freight: The Impacts, was launched at Southend, to coincide with the last day on consultation of plans to expand the local airport being proposed by the freight magnate Eddie Stobbart (2).
 
The 38 page report highlights the tax-breaks enjoyed by the aviation freight industry.  It pays no tax on aviation fuel.  It is exempt from VAT.  And it does not pay the equivalent of Air Passenger Duty.  AirportWatch is calling for Air Passenger Duty to be replaced by a Plane Tax, a proposal supported by both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.  But AirportWatch is calling for a higher rate of tax to be paid on freight planes using the airports at night.
 
 
 
John Stewart, the current Chair of AirportWatch, said, “A higher charge on night freight flights would be a sensible market mechanism to force the industry to decide just how much freight really needs to be flown during the night.  Our report suggests that only about 20% of express freight is time-critical.  Fewer freight flights at night would bring real benefits to residents under the flight paths.”
 
The report also highlights the global impact of air freight.  It estimates that air cargo accounts for about 20% of all global aviation emissions.  It has found that air freight produces the most carbon emissions per tonne of any form of freight transport, with considerably greater amounts of CO2 produced per tonne kilometre than shipping.
 
Rose Bridger, the author of the report, said, 'Air freight volumes have reduced during the recession, but freight capacity expansion is planned and underway at airports all over the UK. This will either undermine our greenhouse gas reduction targets, or leave us with white elephants if it is underutilised'.
 
The report found that the UK is running a considerable air freight trade deficit - over £20 billion annually with non-EU countries (which account for 85% of UK freight).
 
ENDS
 
 
 
Notes for Editors
 
(1).
 
38 pages
 
 
Airport-by-airport analysis  Airport by Airport analysis  
15 pages
 
(2). 
The Stobart Group, most famous for their freight business, bought London Southend Airport in December 2008. They plan a massive expansion, taking the airport from under 50,000 to two million passengers per year by 2020. As well as passenger flights, Stobart anticipates that up to 10% of the 53,300 flights they are permitted each year will be for freight. Local residents are worried about the noise, pollution and road congestion that this will cause and are fighting the proposal to extend the airport's runway.
 
 
 
For further information:
 
John Stewart, Chair AirportWatch, 0207 737 6641; 07957385650
 
Rose Bridger, author of the report, 07779 137522; 01484 326886  
 
Denis Walker, Press Officer SAEN (Stop Airport Extension Now), 01702 309693; 07545 967116 or on their website - http://saen.org.uk/ 

 

 

 

 

  
  
  

 

(10th December 2009)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:: Back to News Index ::

Copyright AirportWatch, 2004