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.

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AV8Tours fights APD Levy

AV8Tours along with other leading members of the Travel Trade are fighting against an increase in Air Passenger Duty announced by Alister Darling in his pre-budget report.

Mr Darling told Parliament that from November 1st 2009 there will be a four band structure set at intervals which will be based on the distance travelled from London set at 2,000 mile intervals.

The charges will be levied across four bands:

Band A, covering flights to Europe, will rise to £11, from £10.
Band B, covering flights of up to 4,000 miles including destinations such as Egypt and the US, will rise to £45, from £40.
Band C, covering flights to the Caribbean, will be increased to £50, from £40
Band D, covering flights to Australia and New Zealand, will rise to £60, from £40.

APD will rise again in November 2010 - to £12 in band A, £60 in band B, £75 in bandC and £85 in band D. Passengers who opt to sit in premium cabins will be taxed at double these rates.

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