Currently there is a proposal from the Netherlands for a new “environmental” tax on tickets across the EU’s nation states.

Iata cited its own consumer research suggesting that passengers were more supportive of the development of sustainable aviation fuels than the introduction of a new green tax on flights.

The association said 64% of consumers wanted governments to back the development of sustainable fuels as the best way of managing aviation’s impact on emissions and climate change.

The second most popular option was supporting the research and development of new technology and better airline operations at 62%. While introducing environmental taxes was backed by just 22% of those surveyed.

Alexandre de Juniac, Iata’s chief executive, said: “Aviation takes the climate change challenge very seriously. For more than a decade we have set and exceeded tough targets for carbon emissions, and we plan to achieve much more.

“Public opinion has a clear message to governments: work with aviation to encourage investment in clean fuels, and new hybrid and electric technology. This will help airlines cut emissions in half by 2050.”

The aviation industry is facing renewed pressure to reduce emissions with the Scottish government cancelling plans to reform and reduce Air Passenger Duty earlier this year because it was ““no longer compatible” with climate change targets.

Sustainable tourism specialist Responsible Travel has also called for a new “Green Flying Duty” on the sector, while Greenpeace activists interrupted chancellor Philip Hammond’s Mansion House speech to financiers last week.