Airline bodies oppose plans for higher APD at congested airports
Two major airline organisations are putting increased pressure on Chancellor George Osborne to make Air Passenger Duty fairer ahead of next month’s Autumn Statement.
In a joint letter, the British Air Transport Association (BATA) and the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK), have outlined how they think the Chancellor could make the rest of the UK more competitive following the devolution of APD in Scotland.
The two groups argue that a 50% reduction in Band A and Band B rates of UK APD would be the best way to ensure broad parity with Scotland in the short term.
They say this would ‘support regional growth, whilst not artificially distorting competition or damaging aviation’s contribution to the national economy’.
However, they say longer term they want APD to be abolished altogether before the end of this Parliament.
BATA chief executive Nathan Stower said: "The Chancellor is right to recognise that devolution including the Scottish Government’s plans to halve APD will have implications for England, but we cannot support the devolution of APD within England.
"We are particularly concerned that a group of airports are proposing that there should be a higher rate of APD at so-called ‘congested airports’.
"We believe there is a compelling economic and political case for abolition of APD during this Parliament to improve the UK’s international competitiveness, boost trade, increase productivity, encourage inbound tourism and support the travelling public."
BAR UK chief executive Dale Keller added: "We believe passengers would find it hard to understand and difficult to accept having to pay more tax to fly than people living in other parts of the country.
"To put it simply, why should someone living in Bedford, Croydon, or Reading have to pay more tax to visit a potential client, go on holiday, or visit their family and friends, than someone living in Bradford, Chorley or Redcar?"
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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