ABTA calls for relief in travel tax burden
ABTA is urging Chancellor Alistair Darling not to further hike taxes on aviation in today’s pre-Budget report.
The report is anticipated to include details on aviation tax.
But ABTA has written to the Chancellor calling on the government to lessen the financial burden on airlines and holidaymakers by not taking the “easy option†of hiking aviation tax.
Air Passenger Duty currently raises £2 billion a year yet details of a replacement Aviation Duty scheme have yet to emerge.
The travel business and holidaymakers are already struggling with the effects of the credit crunch and volatile fuel prices and any increase in taxation would severely damage the industry, ABTA warned.
Aviation has already addressed its environmental impact by joining the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme, which comes into force in 2012, as well as supporting carbon offsetting schemes.
ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “The government must resist the temptation to increase the tax burden on our members and customers.
“This will handicap the industry and jeopardise families’ chances of their much-needed break in the sun.
“Any attempt to dress up a blatant tax raising initiative as environmental will quickly be seen through by the public.â€
Recent attempts to introduce an aviation tax in Belgium were rejected following a consumer campaign; Sweden and Denmark have done the same, according to the association.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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