First of all, I see this tax only a way to gain money.
I read following the link that this tax will affect with 3.1 billion of $ from 2012 to 2020. I don't think is too much for 8 years, and I don't think that a big country like USA can do so much concerning job creation with this money.
for the same reason I don't think it will affect the price of tickets, it may be an excuse to rise them.
That's what I think!
Any aircraft that lands in any airport pays a tax, but it doesn't have to land in that airport! If an airline doesn't want to pay, it won't come in europe!
the EU is not thinking to be the sole arbiter of Ecological governance, it's just attemting to make money. I had big examples of countries that decided to became the arbiter of political matters around the world in the latest years, but it's another story.
I don't think that american airlines will not be happy if they cannot fly to europe.
In my opinion, this is not a law against foreign airliners, but only a law designed to gain a bit more of money. It may be designed to brake the middle-east and oriental Airlines, that are growing up fast and taking pieces of EU market.
just my 2 cents, I'm glad to take part of this interestin discussion! :-)