Airlines urge Chancellor to scrap flights tax increase
In an unprecedented move, bosses from airlines including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, easyJet and Monarch have joined forces to fight the rise in Air Passenger Duty (APD).
The Chancellor plans to increase APD by eight per cent, meaning a family of four taking return flights from Edinburgh to London will pay £208 in APD alone. A family of four taking a holiday to Florida will have to fork out a whopping £520 in APD charges.
In an open letter to Mr Osborne, the airline chiefs said no other country in the world faces such high levels of aviation taxation.
The letter goes on to say: "It is a decision that is short-sighted and ill-considered and will place the UK at an even greater competitive disadvantage. For a government that has, quite rightly, made the economy its number one priority this decision defies reason."
"It goes against common-sense, economic logic and continues the tax discrimination against air travellers."
About the Author
Mark Avery
Mark Avery wanted to be a Concorde pilot, but being colour blind put a halt to that particular career path. The demise of Concorde didn't help matters either! He took up journalism instead. Following a stint moaning about Coventry City's plight for a living, the dad of two girls is now is in charge of all things editorial at flightmapping.com.
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