ISLANDERS frequently flying from UK airports could be hit hard by new air taxes under a Conservative government. The proposals, outlined by shadow chancellor George Osborne, include a ‘green air miles’ allowance of no more than 2,000 air miles per passenger. Anyone exceeding that limit would be forced to pay double the air passenger duty – currently £20 per return trip – each time they travel.

Guernsey Transport Users’ Committee chairman Hugh Bougourd was very concerned by the proposals.

‘It’ll impact greatly and I don’t see how it’s going to work,’ he said.

‘Someone who’s flying four times a year is going to have to pay a lot more than someone who is flying just once.’

The proposals have received severe criticism from airlines. Flybe branded the move a ‘full-frontal attack on ordinary travellers’ and ‘yet another blunt instrument of a tax that fails to take into account the efforts of individual airlines’.

‘We have concerns as both families and businesses often work to a tight budget and excess charges could mean people are unable to travel by air,’ said a spokesman.

‘Flybe feels green air mile allowances are bureaucratically very difficult to administer and, at the very worst, could be open to fraud.’

Mr Bougourd also questioned the feasibility of a green air miles system.’

‘It’s going to be horrendous,’ he said.

‘The airlines are going to have to let the government know. Once again, it’s going to increase fares. The basic fares these days are less than the tax – it’s getting ludicrous.’

He sympathised with airlines and the travelling public and had doubts about the environmental benefits.

‘I think it’s another way of fobbing money off the traveller.’

The environment is proving to be a key battleground in the next general election.

Other options suggested by the Conservatives include adding fuel duty or VAT to domestic tickets – meaning a charge of £17.50 on a £100 fare – and replacing air passenger duty with a per-flight tax linked to carbon emissions. Airlines have contested their responsibility for recent increases in carbon emissions, with research showing they account for 4% of emissions in the EU.

Aurigny was unavailable for comment.