Ryanair Ups Fares to Cover ETS

Ryanair will add a 25 pence (US 38 cents) levy per passenger for all bookings made from January 17, 2012. (Key Archive)

Low-cost Irish carrier Ryanair will add a 25 pence (US 38 cents) levy per passenger for all bookings made from tomorrow (January 17) to cover the cost of the European Union’s (EU) new Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) tax.

A statement from the airline said that the tax would cost its passengers €15-20 million ($19-25m) during 2012.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara stated:  “We do not believe that European aviation should be included in the ETS scheme since it accounts for less than 2% of the EU’s CO₂ emissions.”

Mr McNamara also added that the new tax: “does nothing for the environment but penalises EU consumers and families.”