Berlin (dpa) - The German government plans to increase a tax on flights by up to 17 euros (18.65 dollars) to help combat climate change, according to a draft law seen by dpa.

The change would come into effect on April 1, 2020. It foresees an increase in the air traffic tax of around 3 euros for flights within Germany and the European Union - reaching 10.43 euros per ticket departing from a German airport.

For flights covering up to 6,000 kilometres, an increase of more than 9 euros to 32.57 euros is planned. For even longer flights, the tax would increase by around 17 euros to 58.63 euros.

Airlines normally add the tax to their flight prices, so aeroplane tickets should become that much more expensive.

The move is expected to generate around 300 million euros in additional revenues for the German state next year and more than 500 million euros per year from 2021, according to the draft law prepared by the Finance Ministry.

There had initially been talk of doubling or even tripling the tax.

Asked to what extent a tax increase of the magnitude now being considered would discourage people from flying, a Finance Ministry spokeswoman on Friday said that climate protection measures will be assessed every year and adjusted if needed.

The tax increase nevertheless met with heavy criticism from the aviation industry. Ralph Beisel of the German airport association ADV spoke of an "irresponsible distortion of competition."

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