Charge passengers to fly over Brussels, suggests MR party

The French-speaking liberal party MR proposes to introduce a tax on all flights flying over Brussels, writes La Libre Belgique. The tax, which would affect flights in and out of Brussels Airport, would amount to at least €10 per flight, plus an additional surcharge according to the noise level and the time of flight.

The tax would be paid by the traveller, but would be limited, according to MR Brussels parliament group leader Vincent De Wolf. “The fee for one flight with 102 passengers, for example, would amount to an average of €82.5 during the day, and €550 at night, keeping the surcharge per passenger limited to €0.80 during the day, and to €5.50 for night flights.”

According to MR, the aim of the tax is to reduce noise pollution over the capital, and to bring in an additional €15 to 20 million to the Brussels-Capital Region annually. The proceeds could then be reinvested in better sound reduction measures for the neighbourhoods around the airport.