Key concerned tax on NZ flights may spread

Prime Minister John Key is worried other countries may impose environment taxes on flights to New Zealand .

He is also raising questions about how rational British plans to more than double the tax to fly to Australasia are.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's pre-budget report proposed a $240 tax on flights to New Zealand by 2010. The increase would come under changes to Air Passenger Duty (APD) flight taxes, imposed to penalise travellers who use most environmentally-damaging fossil fuels.

The passenger levy -- which increases the further a passenger is flying to help offset carbon emissions -- would affect New Zealanders flying home from the United Kingdom.

Mr Key, who is also Tourism Minister, raised concerns with Mr Brown in an overnight meeting.