Dutch Travellers Fear Costlier Flights
Dutch travel organisation ANVR has launched a campaign against rising air travel taxes, backed by TUI, Corendon, Transavia and KLM. The move follows a Markteffect survey of more than 1,000 people in the Netherlands. Two thirds said they worry flights could become too expensive if taxes keep rising, while 71% said air travel should remain accessible to lower-income travellers.
The Dutch air travel tax on long-haul flights is set to rise from around €30 to €72 per ticket in 2027. ANVR says that would make the Netherlands the country with the highest aviation tax in the European Union. The group argues that the increase could put extra pressure on families, occasional flyers and people visiting relatives abroad.
“With the highest aviation tax in the EU from 2027, Dutch travelers will either be hit hard financially or choose to depart from airports across the border instead. That does not benefit the climate, and if travelers and businesses leave, destinations will disappear. These plans should be reconsidered, and Dutch air travel taxes should be brought back in line with neighboring countries."
What Could Change
The campaign highlights several concerns:
- Long-haul tax: around €72 per ticket from 2027;
- Current level: around €30 per ticket;
- Family example: more than €190 in Dutch air travel tax for four people flying to Turkey;
- Belgium comparison: around €40 for a similar family trip.
ANVR says the tax gap could push some Dutch travellers to use airports in Belgium or other neighbouring countries instead. That may affect holiday trips, family visits and business travel, especially when several tickets are booked together. Popular routes to Turkey and other longer-distance destinations could feel the rise most clearly, as the extra cost grows with each passenger.
The debate is not about whether aviation should become cleaner. The question is whether national taxes work when nearby countries charge much less. If Dutch passengers simply cross the border to fly, the climate benefit becomes less clear, while local airports and airlines lose traffic. For ordinary households, the issue is simpler: the same trip could cost more depending on where it starts.
