BA steps up pressure on Chancellor
British Airways has increased pressure on the Government to re-think its stance on air passenger duty by writing to frequent flyers worldwide asking them to support the campaign for its abolition or reduction.
BA chief executive officer Keith Williams has sent a personalised email to BA’s UK and non-UK-resident customers inviting them to back the Fair Tax on Flying Campaign.
He has asked the airline’s most loyal customers to sign a pre-written letter to the Chancellor George Osborne stating that the tax is too high.
The letter says: "I am supporting the A Fair Tax on Flying campaign because I believe this tax is now too high and is pricing the UK out of the market.
"UK rates are twice the level of the next most expensive tax. A family of four flying in Economy class between the UK and the United States, for example, pays £260 in APD tax, whereas in France the equivalent tax is only £38. That’s a big difference that is difficult for overseas travellers like me to ignore when deciding where to travel."
An All Party Parliamentary Group this week called for an independent study into the economic impact of APD. Read the story here.
By Linsey McNeill
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
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