The Air Transport Association fired off a letter to Todd Stern, the U.S. Climate Change Envoy, requesting that the U.S. stand against a proposed global tax on aviation emissions.
In the letter, the ATA states that the International Air Passenger Adaptation Levy (PDF), proposed by a set of countries led by The Maldives, would lead to undue price hikes in air tickets. The levy would support climate change mitigation efforts in the developing world.
The ATA estimates that the levy could add anywhere from $6-62 extra in fees per international flight sold.
The ATA says it wants the Obama Administration to support the International Civil Aviation Organization in taking the lead role in developing and implementing a global sectoral framework for aviation and climate change.
About a month ago, the European Union began to weigh its options on aviation emissions, leaning towards having airlines make cuts of 10 percent below 2005 levels over the next decade.
Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association has set a goal to reduce net CO2 emissions 50 percent by 2050 as compared to 2005 levels.
