The Dutch Parliament has approved a new flight tax on business aircraft, set to take effect from 2030. Passengers will be charged €420 for flights up to 2,000 km, €1,015 for distances between 2,000 km and 5,500 km, and €2,100 for flights over 5,500 km.

The new rates replace a flat €26 departure tax previously applied to all passengers, regardless of flight type. The measure forms part of the Dutch government’s 2026 Tax Plan and is intended to align tax levels more closely with environmental impact. Critics argue the policy unfairly targets a sector responsible for under one per cent of flights yet vital to investment and connectivity.

The EBAA has warned that the tax risks undermining Dutch economic competitiveness. Róman Kok, director public affairs and communications at EBAA, says: “With this new tax on business jets, combined with the decision to no longer allow small business traffic at Eindhoven Airport, the Netherlands is pushing itself towards an increasingly difficult and less competitive investment climate. The downward pressure is bad for jobs and innovation and shows that the economic value of business aviation in the Netherlands is heavily underestimated.”

EBAA says it will continue to engage with Dutch policymakers to ensure that regulation is based on facts, proportionality and a realistic assessment of the sector’s economic role.