Brussels, 27/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - European airlines are sounding the alarm over aviation taxes. The Association of European Airlines (AEA) reacted with concern when the British government raised its tax on air passengers, taking it to the top of aviation tax hikes (£94 for long haul flights in economy class). On Wednesday 27 March, the AEA protested to ensure that this kind of increase, which has also taken place in Spain, does not become the norm. Athar Husain Khan, AEA Secretary General, considers government taxes on air transport have a suffocating effect that does more harm than good. He points out that it is perhaps easy to sell the tax hikes as generating income during budget discussions but, in reality, they do considerable damage to the economy and to trade. He went on to say that increasing taxes on an industry that can facilitate growth and employment in the European economy is unacceptable. (MD/transl.jl)