Netherlands Plans Higher Flight Tax From 2027
KLM warns the tax changes could make Dutch tickets the EU’s most expensive and drive travellers to foreign airports.
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On Budget Day, the government proposed switching from a single air passenger tax to three distance-based bands starting January 1, 2027. Today, every ticket from a Dutch airport carries €29.40 in tax.
From 2027, proposed bands are: €29.40 (short-haul, up to ~2,000 km), €47.24 (medium, ~2,000–5,500 km), and €70.86 (long-haul, over 5,500 km). Amounts will be indexed for inflation. The Dutch Caribbean islands (Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten) remain on the lowest band despite their distance; the Canaries are also treated as an exception through EU ties. Parliament must still pass the 2026 tax package.
Before that, the current flat tax rises ~2.9% on January 1, 2026 to €30.25 per ticket (indexation).
The cabinet frames the reform as “polluter pays”: longer flights emit more and should pay more. The official budget impact of the new bands is ~€257 million extra per year from 2027 (on top of existing receipts).
Industry Reaction
KLM says the plan would make the Netherlands the most expensive country in the EU for air travel, pushing travellers over the border to fly from Belgium or Germany. The carrier argues revenue should be earmarked for cleaner aviation, for example, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), instead of flowing into the general budget. Trade groups like ANVR echo concerns about “leakage” to foreign airports. How Other Countries Compare
Belgium applies €10 on very short flights and €5 on most others after a 2025 tweak; Sweden abolished its aviation tax on July 1, 2025; Germany is debating reversing a recent increase in its air travel tax. These moves fuel Dutch industry claims that higher Dutch rates risk competitive disadvantage.
What it Means for Travellers
Short-haul (e.g., within the EU and destinations up to ~2,000 km): tax stays €29.40 in 2027 (plus inflation).
Medium-haul (~2,000–5,500 km, e.g., Egypt, Turkey): tax ~€47.24 in 2027.
Long-haul (>5,500 km, e.g., Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, South Africa): tax ~€70.86 in 2027.
Exceptions: Dutch Caribbean and certain EU territories (e.g., Canaries) remain on the lowest band.
The House and Senate still need to vote on the package this autumn. Expect a heated debate over competitiveness vs. climate aims, whether to earmark revenue for green aviation, and the risk of cross-border airport shopping by Dutch travellers.