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If you’ve been wondering who’s taking advantage of the coronavirus crisis, this one’s for you:
I’ve got hold of confidential documents revealing the airline industry’s global lobbying push for tax breaks, subsidies and regulatory rollback (1/7) https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2020/04/07/coronavirus-airlines-lobby-for-tax-breaks-subsidies-vouchers-passenger-refunds/
I’ve got hold of confidential documents revealing the airline industry’s global lobbying push for tax breaks, subsidies and regulatory rollback (1/7) https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2020/04/07/coronavirus-airlines-lobby-for-tax-breaks-subsidies-vouchers-passenger-refunds/
An email sent by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to its members describes “an aggressive global campaign” to ensure governments let airlines use vouchers instead of cash to refund passengers whose flights are cancelled (2/7)
This is bad for the environment as well as for consumers because it means those passengers will book flights they might not have otherwise (3/7)
I’ve also seen a lobbying strategy circulated by the IATA which outlines their key asks from governments around the world. They say they’ve written to 85 heads of state. These asks include: (4/7)
- The immediate reduction of all charges and taxes
- Deferral of any planned increases in charges and taxes for 6-12 months
- Setting up of funds to help airlines restart or maintain routes
- Reducing airport staff numbers to save money rather than using airline charges
(5/7)
- Deferral of any planned increases in charges and taxes for 6-12 months
- Setting up of funds to help airlines restart or maintain routes
- Reducing airport staff numbers to save money rather than using airline charges
(5/7)
Finally, I’ve got a letter sent by an executive at Emirates, revealing that they’ve written to US airports asking for similar measures.
They go beyond the guidance, though, asking for no new taxes or tax increases until 2022 (6/7)
They go beyond the guidance, though, asking for no new taxes or tax increases until 2022 (6/7)
You can read the full story below. If any journalists are interested in covering and want to discuss further or want copies of the documents, my DMs are open (7/7) https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2020/04/07/coronavirus-airlines-lobby-for-tax-breaks-subsidies-vouchers-passenger-refunds/
