Industry welcomes plans for per-plane air tax – UPDATED
But it is calling on the Government to rethink its policy to scrap permission for a third runway at Heathrow and new runways at Stansted and Gatwick (see separate story).
ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “We have always stated that the travel industry should be taxed fairly and that a system more closely aligned to the efficiency of aircraft and distance travelled is the fairest way to achieve this, and we welcome the Government’s move to adopt a per plane tax.
"However, the amount of this taxation must not be set at a punitive level and when the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme comes into force in 2012 it should be scrapped.
"Before the Government makes final decisions about individual airports it needs to consider the overall capacity needs of the UK. Banning any airport expansion will severely damage UK PLC without significant environmental benefits as air traffic will simply migrate to our competitors on the continent."
ABTA said it will be looking to meet with key staff as soon as possible.
The move towards a per-plane tax was also welcomed by EasyJet chief executive Andy Harrison.
"The two Government parties have made a firm coalition agreement to reform the daft APD, which taxes full planes but not empty ones. It’s now time to act and make APD a fairer and greener tax without increasing the tax burden on the flying public.”
UKinbound chief executive Mary Rance said: “We look forward to this Government actioning its pledges to review and amend APD and hope that their solution can remove this barrier to UK entry."
It is also calling for further research into volcanic ash and for improving consumer confidence in the aviation industry following a spate of shutdowns and the BA strike.
*By Bev Fearis and Phil Davies
* What do you want the new Government to do to secure the future of the travel industry. Send us your ‘wishlist’ by clicking on Add a comment below.
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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