Big two join fight against unfair tax
TUI and Thomas Cook have voiced their support for the industry-wide campaign against further rises in Air Passenger Duty.
The Fair Tax on Flying campaign is calling on the Government to halt any further rises in aviation tax, with revenue from APD having increased by 2600% since it was first introduced in 1994.
In an open letter to the Government, Thomas Cook group CEO Manny Fontenla-Novoa said: “Thomas Cook and the UK travel industry as a whole calls on the government for an urgent Budget review of its plans for the flying tax – APD.
“The aviation industry already more than fulfils its obligation to meet its environmental costs.Our customers pay more than £120 million per year in APD to government coffers via this so-called ‘green tax’.
“Yet the government does not use that revenue to benefit the environment. Put simply, it is a stealth tax on flying. Despite what the environmental lobby would have you believe, the flying cost per mile is similar to car fuel tax – even though the carbon footprint of our airline per mile is less than cars.
“The industry has just seen one of its most challenging years. Holidaymakers now face large price increases caused by exchange rates and massive hikes in fuel costs. The government must recognise that the APD flying tax should not be increased. Indeed, the system should be revised to ensure British people do not continue to have to face unfair taxes on their hard-earned holidays.â€
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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