BARUK joins attack on new air tax
The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK) has called on the Treasury to rescind its planned new Aviation Duty.
BARUK slammed the replacement for Air Passenger Duty in November 2009 as “ill-conceivedâ€.
It is the second industry body after the British Air Transport Association to criticise the new tax.
APD is structured on a per passenger basis but aviation duty would be levied per departing flight in the UK, structured around Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW) and the distance flown.
BARUK has provided 11 reasons why this duty should not be introduced.
It believes the way forward is not via taxation but through a properly-designed emissions scheme, linked to the major drivers of efficiencies through technology, operations, infrastructure and positive economic measures.
Chief executive Mike Carrivick said: “The proposal to introduce aviation duty is a very clumsy attempt to disguise a declared money-taking opportunity as an environmental initiative; nothing could be further from reality.
“Money is continuing to be grabbed from airlines and their passengers, yet none of it is scheduled for any specific environmental purpose.
“Apart from the many legal aspects that arise, this duty would impose competition distortions and drive business away from the UK. It also fails the Treasury’s own stated principles in so many ways.
“The practicalities of this duty fail the theory in devastating ways; it must not be introduced.â€
*See previous TravelMole story
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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