In a move that’s opposite to its past policy, Sweden’s new budget calls for an end to its air passenger tax by next July, eliminating a tax that was intended to discourage air travel for environmental reasons.
The tax was introduced in 2018, and was an emblem of Sweden’s push at that time for strong climate policies. It came at the same time that Swedish press coined the term ‘flygskam’ or ‘flight shame.’
The budget, set to be approved later this month, contains the cut and a number of other provisions that opponents have said represent backtracking from Sweden’s climate goals. They say the current government has no concrete plan to reach Sweden’s previously-announced climate targets.
The fee, which is not levied on transit passengers, ranges from about $7 for short-haul flights up to $49 for long-haul flights.
