Should air fares be increased to discourage people from traveling by plane?

Global warming is a well–known problem. Over the past 50 years, the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history. Some of the outcomes of global warming are extreme weather, melting glaciers that can lead to rising sea levels that are followed by flooding, high level of air pollution and so on. In light of all these outcomes, the question is – should air fares be increased to discourage people from traveling in order to help reduce pollution and ease the effects of global warming?

Taxing citizens, is a common way to influence their choices: In Britain, just recently, the sugar tax came into force, with the aim of decreasing the level of obesity in the population. In Israel, in the last few years, a tax on cigarettes has been introduced, since it harms health; many countries tax food imports to protect the local industry and so on.

On the one hand, a private traveller can't see a direct result from the air pollution caused by planes and therefore a tax could make him think twice before traveling by plane. It's a simple economic rule that demand decreases when price increases. On the other hand, the main population stratum to be hit would be the middle – low classes. This class it most sensitive to costs and therefore one should ask oneself – is decreasing the air pollution level by harming the middle class, who anyway work hard, the right way?

In view of the things that were discussed in this essay, my opinion is that as long as there is not a sensible alternative to travelling between countries, the government shouldn't impose a tax on air fares. The decision makers should find a way to tax air pollution in a way that will affect all citizens equally.