Airlines in Europe are attacking proposed taxes on air passengers

. The Association of European Airlines criticized the Belgian government's plans to tax travelers passing through Belgian airports, saying it won't be used for environmental protection purposes, as the government insists. Noting that Belgium's government said the tax would contribute €132 million (US$180 million) annually to the Belgian treasury, AEA secretary general Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus said, "Either the treasury benefits from passengers paying the tax, or the environment--supposedly--benefits from passengers not flying. You can't have it both ways." Meanwhile, Aer Lingus objected to an "airport travel tax" contained in Ireland's 2009 budget, suggesting it would "further damage already falling consumer demand for air travel and will put Ireland at a significant disadvantage for inbound tourism."