EasyJet welcomes APD move
EasyJet has welcomed the Chancellor’s decision to charge Air Passenger Duty per aircraft instead of per passenger from 2009.
“This is the right decision and we look forward to working with the government on a new structure that properly reflects the pollution levels of different aircraft types and the distance flown by those aircraft,” it said in a statement.
“While it is right that aviation should be taxed more intelligently, easyJet cautions that this must not be used as a Trojan Horse to increase the overall of levels of tax from airline passengers.
“People passing through UK airports already pay £2.4 billion in APD.”
The no-frills airline claims that, based on current levels, easyJet already covers its full carbon cost more than four times over.
Andy Harrison, easyJet Chief Executive, said: “We have long argued that the current structure of APD is in need of reform. A tax that penalises families but excludes private jets; and charges passengers travelling to Marrakech the same as those travelling to Melbourne, is just plain wrong.
“A structure that taxes a passenger in the newest, cleanest aircraft the same as someone in an old gas-guzzler cannot be allowed to continue.
“It is right to tax emissions, not passengers. That means reflecting a combination of aircraft type and distance flown. But the reform should not be used as an excuse to further increase the burden of tax on passengers – easyJet, for example, already covers its carbon costs more than four times over.
“We think it is a good step in the right direction that could be up and running before the November 2009 date indicated by the Chancellor today.”
By Bev Fearis
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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