Scrap APD

The UK is being urged to take a lead from the Dutch government and scrap Air Passenger Duty.

The call came from ABTA which claimed that as the UK enters a severe recession APD will "exacerbate the problems already being encountered by the aviation and tourist industries with significant falls in passenger numbers".

The announcement by the Dutch government that it plans to scrap its airport tax as part of its economic support measures will have the added effect of encouraging airlines to bypass the UK and re-route to Dutch airports with further damage to the UK's economy, ABTA claims.

The Industry has called for a planned rise in the tax this autumn to be abandoned at the very least.