In the manifesto released today (April 14), the Liberal Democrats have come out in favour of scrapping Air Passenger Duty (APD), as well as cancelling plans for a third runway at Heathrow.
The controversial aviation tax, which is a fee levied on each individual passenger, would be replaced by a Per Plane Duty (PPD).
This new way of taxing air travel would benefit low cost carriers such as Ryanair and Easyjet, as they fly more passengers per plane than full-service carriers with more spacious premium seating.
The Conservative Party has pledged to make changes to aviation taxes by reforming Air Passenger Duty, rather than scrapping it all together, but it did not say how.
The Lib Dems would extend its PPD aviation tax to air freight, not currently covered under APD, as well as introducing a "higher rate" of PPD on short-haul domestic flights when a "realistic alternative and less polluting travel is available".
The political party said this would mean pollution is "properly taxed".
"The emissions from rising aviation are a serious problem in the fight against climate change," said the Lib Dems.
"But in some more remote parts of the country, flights are a vital lifeline, and aviation is important for the economy as a whole. Liberal Democrats believe that we should do all we can to ensure people use alternatives where that makes sense."
The Liberal Democrats stated they would cancel plans for the third runway at Heathrow, as well as any expansion of other airports in the South East.
The party has also pledged to cut rail fares. It wants to change the rules in contracts with train operating companies, so that regulated fares fall behind inflation by 1% each year, which it says is a "real-terms cut".
Further savings for rail passengers could also come from the Lib Dems' pledge to make Network Rail refund a third of the ticket price when travellers have to take a rail replacement bus service.
Unlike the Tories, who have said they want to plough ahead with high speed rail developments, the Lib Dems are more focussed on local rail improvements, such as closed rail lines and adding extra tracks.
The Lib Dems want to switch traffic from road to rail, with the improvements being paid for by cutting the budget for roads.
www.libdems.org.uk