France, Spain and Kenya are among a group of countries spearheading a drive at the COP30 climate summit for a new tax on luxury air travel, a source close to the matter told AFP.

Rooted in the idea that a small elite of premium flyers should pay more for their outsized contribution to global warming, the proposal will likely pit them against the powerful aviation industry.

Diplomats from the coalition of more than 10 countries are pushing for more to come aboard.

“We want to expand the coalition and, in particular, bring in more European states,” the source said.

Business and first-class seats carry roughly triple the planet-warming emissions footprint of an economy ticket, while private jets emit up to 14 times more per passenger-kilometre compared to commercial flights.

Countries th

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