Industry braced for air tax rise

The fight to cut APD continues as the industry prepares for another increase in this year’s Budget.

A Fair Tax on Flying campaign members today called upon the Chancellor to "do the right thing" by rethinking its approach to the UK’s Air Passenger Duty (APD) saying that another rise would "defy economic logic".

The Chancellor is expected to increase APD again in this year’s Budget, meaning from April 1the UK will be one of just five countries in Europe to levy any kind of passenger departure tax on flights.

Simon Buck, chief executive of BATA said: "To increase the tax yet again would – quite simply- defy economic logic: acting as a further brake on inbound and outbound tourism."

Darren Caplan, chief executive of Airports Operators Association said: "The UK is one of only a small band of countries in Europe which still levies APD. Year-on-year increases in the tax are increasingly acting as a barrier to growth and investment, and putting us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our nearest international rivals."