Starting January 1, 2026, the government will increase the air passenger tax by 2.9%. The current rate of €29.40 will therefore increase to €30.25, according to calculations by the ANVR (Royal Dutch Airline Traffic Authority).
The air passenger tax is adjusted annually to reflect price trends according to a fixed formula. Now that the necessary figures have been finalized, the increase can be calculated. Walter Schut explains: “The ANVR is already announcing this amount so airlines can factor it in when setting their fares for 2026. This prevents customers and tour operators from being confronted with additional charges after the fact, as has sometimes happened in the past.”
Far too late
The increase is part of the Tax Plan, which will be presented on Budget Day and must later be approved by the House of Representatives. Official publication usually doesn’t follow until December, while the tax already applies in January. “That’s obviously far too late for airlines. With this early calculation, we’re giving them a helping hand,” says Schut.
Flight Tax
The (outgoing) government plans to significantly increase the flight tax on long-haul flights by 2027. This should generate an additional €248 million. For long-haul flights, this means an increase of €50 to €70 per ticket, or even more, depending on the chosen option. The ANVR (Dutch Association of Air Traffic Controllers) opposes these plans. The flight tax is expected to be a topic of discussion again during the coalition government after the elections in October 2025.
