Friday 22 June 2012
A Fair Tax on Flying, an alliance of 30+ airlines and tour operators, has launched a website to encourage British travellers to log their opposition to the Air Passenger Duty tax with their MP. Among the companies pledging support to the campaign are Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and TUI Travel.
APD rose by 8% in April. A family of 4 travelling to Europe now pays just over £50 in the tax, more than £250 to, for instance, Egypt or United States, more than £300 to the Caribbean or South Africa, and more than £350 to Australia. The figures double for those flying premium-economy, business- or first-class.
British fliers are taxed more highly than those from any other country. In 2005 APD was £5pp on European and £20pp on all other flights – a rise of as much as 360% in 7 years.
Darren Caplan, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, commented: "With a double inflation APD rise now in place and further rises planned, it is imperative that the travelling public makes its voice heard in this important debate. We're helping passengers to send a message to the Treasury loud and clear that APD is too high."
Takethefamily recently gauged the level of dissatisfaction among parents with APD and its impact on British holidaymakers, employment and economic growth in their family holidays survey, the results of which were sent on to the government.
