Agents warned over APD confusion
Agents are being warned to double check with their airline partners about their position on the collection of Air Passenger Duty.
With an increase in APD due to come into force from April 1, airlines have not yet confirmed if they will collect the extra tax on tickets issued before the GDSs were changed around 3 December 2011, if they will collect at the airport, or if they will not collect it at all.
ABTA said it has contacted airlines to ensure they properly advise agents of their plans to avoid ADMs being issued by third party auditors in ignorance.
It told agents: “If you have a large number of bookings with any airline you have not heard from, you might wish to contact them directly to ascertain their position.”
Last time APD increased with less than a year’s notice, airlines took different lines and it caused confusion for agents.
There is no clear procedure to follow in this situation and ultimately it’s an airline’s commercial decision.
Each airline will need to decide if the cost of collection justifies the amount it will have to pay to the Treasury.
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.
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