Ryanair adds ecotax

Michael O’Leary "Global warming is bullshit"

Ryanair is to add 25p to all bookings from next week

The budget airline, which will bring in the levy from January 17, described the European Emissions Trading System, which began on 1 January as an ‘eco-loony tax’.

And although the EU asserts that the system will be cash-positive for airlines, who are being offered an initial free carbon allowance, Ryanair is adding a 25p charge to each passenger.

This extra charge will bring Ryanair in an extra UK£18 million per annum based on current carryings.

The levy will apply per passenger, per one-way flight. It is levied based on an airline’s carbon emissions.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said: ‘Ryanair does not believe that European aviation should be included in the ETS scheme since it accounts for less than 2 per cent of the EU’s CO2 emissions.

‘This latest EU stealth tax will damage traffic, tourism, European competitiveness and jobs at a time when no other economic block is including aviation in their ETS schemes.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary recently brought in extra baggage charges fro passengers

Last month passengers flying with the budget airline were told they will have to pay up to £100 to check in each bag during peak travel times.

In June, July, August and September and over Christmas, passengers who are caught out at the airport with bags over the 10kg hand luggage allowance will be forced to pay £100 to check them in, up from the original fee of £40.

And even those who book online and confirm that they are checking in a bag will be charged £25, an increase of £5 per bag.

In a recent interview with the UK’s Guardian Mr O’Leary said "Do I believe there is global warming? No, I believe it’s all a load of bullshit. But it’s amazing the way the whole fucking eco-warriors and the media have changed. It used to be global warming, but now, when global temperatures haven’t risen in the past 12 years, they say ‘climate change’.

"Well, hang on, we’ve had an ice age. We’ve also had a couple of very hot spells during the Middle Ages, so nobody can deny climate change. But there’s absolutely no link between man-made carbon, which contributes less than 2% of total carbon emissions [and climate change]."

He suggested scientists had invented and perpetuated the theory in order to gain research grants. "Scientists argue there is global warming because they wouldn’t get half of the funding they get now if it turns out to be completely bogus," he said.

He mocked global warming campaigners, describing the United Nations as "one of the world’s most useless organisations", its Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as "utter tosh", and US politician Al Gore as someone who "couldn’t even get fucking re-elected" after a boom

Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite more info : HERE