A simmering dispute is threatening to fracture Germany’s ruling coalition over a proposed levy on luxury air travel. The Social Democratic Party (SPD), demonstrating a growing assertiveness on climate policy, is pushing for a specialized tax targeting passengers in business and first class, as well as private jet users. A spokesperson for the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, under Carsten Schneider (SPD), confirmed the initiative, stating the implementation of such a levy would be “without problems”. This position is echoed by the Federal Ministry of Finance, also held by an SPD member, Lars Klingbeil.
The push originates from a coalition of nine countries – including Spain and France – who intend to present the proposal at the upcoming World Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil. Dubbed the “Premium Flyers Solidarity Coalition” the group aims to generate reliable funding for climate protection and development initiatives. The proposed tax could be applied as a direct surcharge on flight tickets or levied on the kerosene used for private flights, offering individual nations flexibility in design to account for pre-existing kerosene taxes.
However, the proposal faces significant resistance from the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which holds key ministerial positions. The Federal Ministry of Transport, under Patrick Schnieder (CDU), dismissed the idea, deeming it “not an issue at the moment”. Other CDU-led ministries declined to comment, deferring inquiries to the Finance and Transport Ministries, highlighting a clear divergence in perspectives within the government. This internal disagreement comes shortly after the coalition agreed to abolish the existing aviation ticket tax in 2026, adding complexity to the debate.
The initiative is gaining traction as concerns regarding economic inequality and climate responsibility intensify within the broader public. Former State Secretary at the Foreign Office, Jennifer Morgan, who previously oversaw international climate policy under the SPD-led coalition, argued that the proposal reflects a growing recognition of the need to tax high-net-worth individuals and private jet users, describing it as “fair and necessary”. The potential for internal conflict within the German government underscores the mounting pressure to address the climate impact of luxury travel and the challenging political terrain surrounding equitable solutions.