Long-Haul Travel Fees Could Cost Passengers Up to 70 Euros Per Ticket

The European aviation industry is urging the Dutch government to take a step back from its proposed air passenger tax increase, which could put travel fees at up to 70 Euros per ticket by 2027. Stakeholders argue that the price hikes would harm the economy more than help it, especially factoring in tourism and decarbonization initiatives.

Starting January 1, 2026, the tax on departing flights will rise 2.9 percent, bumping the per-ticket fee from 29.40 to 30.25 Euros. Unfortunately for European operators, that’s just the warm-up. By 2027, medium-haul passengers could face taxes of over 47 Euros, while long-haul travelers may be forced to fork over 70 Euros a pop.

Industry groups have clear objections to the proposed tax hike. Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe) and Airlines for Europe (A4E) issued a joint statement warning that the plan will “undermine connectivity, hurt passengers and weaken investment in aviation decarbonisation.” In practice, this points to customers opting for airports with cheaper prices, leaving the Netherlands with fewer travelers and zero progress toward sustainability.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which would take the brunt of the markups, has been especially vocal. CEO Marjan Rintel warned that the change would make the Netherlands “the most expensive country in the European Union for air travel,” adding that “the Netherlands is pricing itself out of the market. This puts pressure on our airline network and strikes at the heart of the Netherlands’ global connectivity.”

The data seems to back Rintel’s concerns. Research, notably commissioned by KLM, shows Dutch travelers are already dodging the tax by driving across the border. Between 2019 and 2024, departures from Dusseldorf rose 41 percent, and those from Brussels climbed 20 percent. Many of those passengers started their journeys in the Netherlands.

Another sticking point is how the revenue is used… or how it isn’t. Many claim that not a cent of the tax revenue is being applied to cleaner fuels, quieter aircraft, or other decarbonization initiatives and is instead disappearing into the general budget.

Dutch lawmakers seem unmoved by the pushback, but with backlash growing, they won’t be able to simply ignore it much longer.

FMI: www.klm.com