A French tax on airline tickets to gather money for funding the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, through bulk purchases of medicines will take effect from Saturday.However, only a handful of countries are following suit and the tax is frowned upon by International Air Transport Association (IATA)

Passengers starting their journey in France will have to pay a tax of between one and 40 euros ($1.25 and $50) from July 1.

The level of tax depends on their destination and has been vigorously promoted by French President Jacques Chirac.

The only European Union partner to sign up was Luxembourg.

Other countries that are implementing the initiative includes Brazil, Chile, Cyprus, Congo, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nicaragua and Norway.
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