航空业成“唐僧肉”？ 国际航协抵制“团结税”

Core Viewpoint - The aviation industry, while being a significant driver of globalization and economic growth, is facing proposals for taxation that could undermine its financial stability and sustainability efforts [2][3][4]. Group 1: Taxation Proposal and Industry Response - The Global Solidarity Tax Working Group (GSLTF) has proposed taxing the aviation sector to improve revenue mobilization in developing countries and support international solidarity, particularly in climate change and other development challenges [2][3]. - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has criticized the GSLTF proposal, stating it lacks substantive details and could generate €78 billion (over $90 billion) annually from high-end travelers, which is three times the projected profit of the global aviation industry for 2024 [3][4]. - IATA argues that the aviation industry operates on a low net profit margin, with an expected average of 3.4% for 2024, which is half the average of all global industries, indicating that the proposed tax would be detrimental [3][4]. Group 2: Economic Impact and Industry Value - IATA emphasizes that the aviation sector is a catalyst for economic growth, providing essential connectivity for remote communities and supporting tourism and local economies [4][5]. - The aviation industry has made commitments amounting to trillions of dollars towards sustainability, including a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, which could be jeopardized by the proposed taxation [7][9]. - In China, the aviation sector directly employed 2.1 million people in 2023, contributing $53.7 billion to the GDP, and indirectly supporting an overall contribution of $253.6 billion, or 1.4% of the national GDP [7][8]. Group 3: Public Sentiment and Alternatives - A survey commissioned by IATA revealed that 73% of travelers believe green taxes are a form of "greenwashing," and 79% think flight taxes are too high, indicating widespread skepticism about the effectiveness of such taxes [5][6]. - The survey also showed that only 9% of travelers support taxes as a means to offset carbon emissions, with more favorable options being investments in sustainable aviation fuel (25%) and carbon reduction technologies (23%) [6][7]. - IATA argues that the GSLTF proposal would disrupt the operational structure of airlines, increase costs for all travelers, and ultimately hinder the industry's ability to invest in long-term sustainability solutions [9][10].