The European Union plans to charge a green tax on flights to the US from Jan 1.
The move is part of a carbon-trading rule on airlines using EU airports. A family of four now faces an extra charge of 80 pounds to fly to the US after the Brusselsruling on carbon emissions.
The EU carbon-trading rule is designed to curb emissions of carbon dioxide from aircraft engines. Each airline will be allocated pollution permits slightly less than its average emissions record for previous years.
If it exceeds its limit it can buy permits from other airlines that have emitted less than allowed and have leftover permits to sell.
The aim is to persuade or force airlines to emit less carbon by upgrading their fleets or becoming more efficient.
All revenue derived by the EU from the programme will go towards fighting climate change.
