Seven years ago, under pressure from local climate change celebrity whiner Greta Thunberg, Sweden imposed a tax of up to $45 on all departing airline flights in an attempt to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions. It was quickly dubbed the "flight shaming" tax, and was adopted by Britain, Australia and ten other countries.
But taxing air travel has clearly side-swiped Sweden's economy. Sweden's international flights have dropped by a third and smaller rural airports are in danger of closing.
So as of July 1, the flight tax, which in Swedish is appropriately known as the "flygscam," is no more. The positive results have been immediate. Ryanair, which had dropped all domestic Swedish flights, is introducing ten new routes.
Travel and Tour World says, "Sweden's decision to abolish the air tax marks a turning point in the debate between economic growth and environmental sustainability." The number one candidate for change should be Britain, where the flight shaming tax adds between $9 and $300 to the cost of departing flights depending on distance and class. The average is over $40.
We think other countries who want to revive their stagnant airline markets will follow Sweden's example. And we can just hear Greta's signature primal scream: "HOW DARE YOU!"
