22 April 2009

Cheapflights joins pre-Budget call for abolition of APD

Cheapflights has joined a last-ditch attempt by the travel industry to urge the Chancellor to axe Air Passenger Duty or scrap the proposed increase due on November 1.

With the Budget announcement due later today, the flight price search site has backed an earlier call from the European Low Fares Airline Association.

Cheapflights reminded Alastair Darling of a statement he made in November 2008 saying ââ¬ÅâœAt a time when the economy slows downââ¬~¦Ã¢â¬~¦.ââ¬~¦trying to get more tax out of people that would make a difficult situation worse, so what you do is you support the economy by helping businesses, by helping peopleââ¬~.

ââ¬ÅâœCheapflights therefore urges the Chancellor to follow his own advice in the coming Budget,ââ¬~ said UK general manager Francesca Ecsery.

ââ¬ÅâœThe Dutch have decided to abolish their version of APD due to its detrimental effect on their economy.

ââ¬ÅâœIt therefore defies not only common sense but also the Chancellorââ¬â¢s own reasoning not to do the same or at the very least halt the planned November 2009 rise in APD.

ââ¬ÅâœWhen the UK has to climb out of recession now clearly is the worst possible time for the proposed increase in APD.ââ¬~


By Bev Fearis

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