Says Business Travelers, Connecting Passengers Should Pay

Michael O'Leary, CEO of Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair, says he has the answer to political concerns over the impact commercial aviation has on global warming: increase taxes on those who contribute most to the problem.

"There is a way that tax can be aimed at aviation," O'Leary told reporters Wednesday. "You should penalize old aircraft, you should penalize business class, you should penalize connecting travelers."

O'Leary told Reuters those travelers are paying far too little now... and that his plan makes better sense than the British government's proposal to charge close to $20 dollars in fees to Ryanair passengers on a $50 ticket.

No stranger to controversy, the brash CEO made his comments in response to British environment minister Ian Pearson -- who said last week Ryanair was "the irresponsible face of capitalism" over its position on global warming.

O'Leary says everyone needs to cool off, and end what he calls the "environmental hysteria" in Britain over charging airlines for the amount of CO2 emissions they put into the air. He notes the entire airline industry worldwide contributes less than two percent of all CO2 emissions.

You'll notice O'Leary's suggestions would steer most fees away from his airline... as Ryanair primarily flies point-to-point routes, using newer-model aircraft.

FMI: www.ryanair.com