The International Air Transport Association added its opposition to a Dutch government proposal to impose a passenger tax

of €11.25 (US$15.97) for intra-European flights and €45 (US$63.87) for intercontinental flights departing from Dutch airports. The Association of European Airlines already has blasted the plan, which the Dutch Ministry of Finance described as a means to "combat the environmental impact" of air travel. IATA director-general Giovanni Bisignani called the proposal "a thinly disguised tax grab that does nothing for the environment ... We are seeing a worrying trend across Europe with governments cynically taxing air passengers for environmental reasons then failing to use the revenues for environmental purposes." If approved, the Dutch tax would take effect 1 July 2008 and generate €350 million (US$497 million).