easyJet and airport operator BAA are to head up a lobby group in an attempt to balance much of the criticism that is being levelled at the aviation industry due to environmental concerns.
The group was first mentioned last October, and its first meeting is to take place later this month.
According to The Independent the group will look to counter claims by environmentalists about the impact that aviation has on global warming, as well as offer a more focused argument to Government in an attempt to tackle any future carbon taxes.
Airlines were caught off guard when Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced a doubling of passenger duties in December and while some were able to absorb the increase, others struggled to charge the additional fee and faced a backlash from passengers.
Just last week British Airways said that its own carbon-offsetting scheme had proved unsuccessful and although a BA representative said the airline could have done more to promote it, they feared Gordon Brown’s move would see passengers look unfavourably on being asked to pay more.
The airline industry is also keen to see any additional rules and possible taxes take into account the type of aircraft being used, something easyJet is particularly keen on as it says it runs a very efficient fleet and that technological advances as well as route improvements should from part of a wide-ranging collection of measures.
