Brussels, 06/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - Opposed to a contribution on top of the price of airline tickets, which is set to see the day in France and a few other countries in the EU to go towards development aid (EUROPE 9143), the aviation industry has proposed another means of increasing aid from the developed to the poorest countries. Rather than taxing the aviation transport sector, the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) has suggested investing in the development of transport infrastructures in the developing countries. In a press release, Mike Ambrose, Director-General of ERA, criticises the decision to impose the burden for finding additional funding to shore up public development aid on an industry which is as essential as air transport. "Instead of a tax to raise funds, the ERA proposal would help to provide specific targeted aid, which would not only offer economic benefits to the developing countries, but would also improve the opportunities for European citizens to travel in these countries", explained Mr Ambrose. "This proposal would improve safety for everyone travelling to or within the beneficiary countries" and would eliminate the possibility, however remote, of incorrect use of funds raised by a tax, concluded Mr Ambrose.