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Marrakech – The Netherlands will impose a 60% increase in air passenger tax on flights to Morocco starting January 2027. The hike is part of a broader overhaul that will make the country’s flight tax the highest in the European Union.
Under the new structure, passengers flying from Dutch airports to medium-haul destinations, including Morocco, Turkey, and Egypt, will pay €48 per ticket in air passenger tax. That is up from the current rate of €30.25. The increase was agreed upon by the previous Dutch government.
For long-haul destinations such as the United States, Suriname, and countries across Asia, the tax will rise by 140%. A family of four flying long-haul will pay nearly €290 in tax alone, at €72 per ticket.
By 2027, the average Dutch air passenger will pay over €40 in flight tax per ticket. The EU average stands at roughly €5. That places the Dutch rate at more than eight times the European benchmark.
The tax is expected to generate €1.1 billion in annual revenue for the Dutch treasury, including €300 million in additional income from the 2027 increase. None of the proceeds will be invested in aviation sustainability.
KLM, the flag carrier of the Netherlands, warned the increase will push travelers toward foreign airports. “If travelers consistently shift to foreign airports, routes from Dutch airports will eventually disappear, with negative consequences for passengers, businesses, and the Dutch economy,” KLM explained in a statement last week.
Read also: Ryanair Could Select Morocco as Possible Location for Engine Maintenance Facility
The airline called on the Dutch government to align its flight tax with neighboring countries.
Research by consultancy Markeffect in 2025 found that 74% of Dutch respondents said they would fly more often from airports abroad if the tax were raised further.
Dutch travel operator Corendon echoed the concern. “For a family, that can add up to hundreds of euros extra for a well-deserved vacation,” the company said. Corendon also criticized inconsistencies in how destinations are classified. Turkey falls under the lowest tax bracket in Germany but is taxed as a medium-haul destination in the Netherlands at €47.24.
Under the new rate structure, short-haul flights, including to the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Caribbean part of the Netherlands, will remain at €29.40. Medium-haul flights will be taxed at €47.24 and long-haul flights at €70.86. Transfer passengers are exempt.
The Dutch travel association ANVR has repeatedly urged political parties to bring the tax in line with neighboring countries. The planned increase also conflicts with the current Dutch coalition agreement, which calls for a uniform EU-wide flight tax across all member states.
The Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis says the tax would have limited impact on travel behavior. The aviation industry strongly disputes that assessment.
Industry representatives argue the increase is “unthinkable” given the ongoing war in Iran and the fuel crisis it has triggered. With energy costs already driving up ticket prices, the sector says adding the highest flight tax in Europe on top will only accelerate the exodus of passengers to cheaper foreign airports.
