ABTA makes last-ditch appeal over APD reform
ABTA is making a last-ditch attempt to persuade the Government to rethink the level and structure of APD.
In the final week of the Government’s APD review, the industry association is hoping to stop the government increasing the tax by up to 10% next April.
Under the current structure, a family of four flying in economy from the UK to Florida pay £240 in flight tax, while if they fly to Australia they can expect to pay £340.
These rates double for customers flying in business class.
An ABTA delegation is visiting Northern Ireland this week, where the case for reform is particularly pressing.
ABTA said Northern Ireland is in danger of losing more international routes as customers and airlines vote with their feet and cross the border to the Republic which has announced it is eliminating aviation tax altogether to encourage overseas visitors.
The Republic currently charges only €3 per passenger. This compares with passengers flying from Belfast who pay up to £120 flight tax per passenger to fly direct to the US.
Governments in Denmark, Sweden, Malta and the Netherlands have all axed their versions of aviation tax after assessing the negative economic impacts on their economies.
The deadline for the Government’s review of a reform of APD is this Friday, June 17.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Marginal increase for New York City tourism in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments