Anti-APD campaigners urge Chancellor to re-consider tax – again
A Fair Tax on Flying campaign has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer ahead of this year’s Budget on March 19 urging him to review the effects of air passenger duty.
The submission warns George Osborne that "the Treasury is looking increasingly isolated on the issue of air passenger departure taxes" as the Republic of Ireland will abolish air tax in April and Scotland’s National Party have called for a halving of APD should it secure independence.
The campaign told Osborne: "Experience suggests that cross border air tax disparities can have a significant impact on demand for flying.
"The [Republic of Ireland’s] Air Travel Tax, will be abolished in April 2014. We are concerned that this may have an impact on the competitiveness of flights departing from the Northern Irish capital, which are subject to APD on short-haul journeys… We would urge you to monitor the situation in Northern Ireland with regards to the damage that the abolition of the Air Travel Tax will have on flights from the country."
It said that increases of three of the four APD bands, and year-on-year rises in APD are making the UK economy "increasingly uncompetitive".
The submission cites growing support for a review and reform of APD, including the fact that over 200,000 people and over 100 MPs have written letters calling for a review.
From April 1, there will be the following changes to APD:
– Band A (flights up to 2000 miles) will remain at £13 in economy and £26 in all other classes
– Band B (flights between 2001-4000 miles) will increase to £69 in economy and £138 in all other classes
– Band C (flights between 4001-6000 miles) will be increased to £85 in economy and £170 in all other classes
– Band D (all flights over 6001 miles) will be increased to £97 in economy and £194 in all other classes
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025