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Reprinted from NewsMax.com

Monday, June 12, 2006 1:01 p.m. EDT

Nations Levy Airline 'AIDS Tax' on Passengers

A group of 14 nations, led by France, has announced that they will impose a tax on airline passengers to help buy drugs for people infected with HIV/AIDS.

The tax is expected to raise more than $258 million a year.

Beginning on July 1, France will charge economy class passengers entering or leaving France one euro – about $1.30 – for flights in Europe, and up to four euros for longer flights. First class and business class passengers will pay 10 euros in Europe and 40 euros elsewhere, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Other countries that have pledged to implement the tax are Britain, Brazil, Chile, Cyprus, Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Mauritius, Norway, Nicaragua, Madagascar and Luxembourg.

The U.S. opposes the tax. But in 2003, America made a commitment to spend $15 billion over five years to battle AIDS.

The United Nations estimates that it needs more than $20 billion by the end of the decade to provide drugs to the growing number of people infected, particularly in Africa and Asia.

The announcement of the AIDS tax came during a three-day AIDS conference at the United Nations last week.

First lady Laura Bush, representing the United States, praised the United Nations’ official anti-AIDS policy called ABC – Abstinence, Be faithful and Condom use – although U.S. funds focus on abstinence-only programs, according to the Times.

The conference set a goal of doubling spending to slow the spread of the disease.

From http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/6/12/132001.shtml