Categories: uncategorized
Date: 12 March 2007 14:58:15
There was a great story in the Sunday Times yesterday. It appears that British Mediterranean has been flying an empty aircraft between Cardiff & Heathrow 6 times a week, in each direction. It does not carry any passengers.
Why does it make the journey? If it doesn't then the airline lose their take-off & landing slots at Heathrow.
In the same weekend we have the Conservative party announcing their plans to tax flights made by frequent flyers. That's not those people who make 1 flight a year for their holiday but those who fly several times; business people, rich people, charity workers etc. I'm not sure if that'll include government ministers and MPs.
Of course, this has caused uproar from the airlines and then lobbyists. It'll harm the economy. It'll destroy jobs. It'll force jobs overseas. Why? Airlines will still have to take passengers onboard and set them down in the UK. Large manufacturers and aircraft repair/servicing companies are not going to relocate elsewhere.
Something has to be done. This especially applies to domestic flights. Is it really right that we should pay £25 each way to get around inside the country. Then again, who wants to pay £100+ for a train ticket? People would rather use their cars at these rates.
What I want to know is this.... Where will our taxes go? How will they benefit the environment? Apart from forcing us to fly less. These questions are never answered.