FLIGHTS need to be taxed to curb the growth in aviation, climate advisers have warned, as the government prepares to decide on airport expansion plans.

In its latest advice for how to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the climate change committee is urging the government to commit to an 87 per cent cut on 1990 levels by 2040 overall.

Aviation emissions would need to fall by 17 per cent compared with 2023 and the industry must take responsibility for them reaching zero by 2050, it said.

The committee said the cost of cutting pollution from the sector needs to be reflected in the price of flights, which could see a round-trip to New York increase by £300 by 2050.

Demand for flights could be managed by measures such as increasing air passenger duty or bringing in a frequent flyer levy, a move which was backed by a citizens’ panel organised by the committee as part of its recommendations.

Environmental campaigners also supported plans that would penalise wealthier frequent flyers.

Friends of the Earth head of policy Mike Childs said: “Rather than championing aviation expansion, the government should introduce a frequent flyers levy to curb the excessive flights taken by a minority of wealthy people each year, without harming the annual family holiday.”

The committee said that limiting airport expansion and capacity could play a “supplementary role” in curbing demand.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has a deadline of tomorrow to decide whether or not to approve Gatwick’s plan to bring its emergency runway into routine use.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave her backing for Heathrow’s third runway project in a speech on growth last month.

The Department for Energy was approached for comment.