APD activity ramped up for summer

A Fair Tax on Flying has launched a new summer campaign today lobbying the Government over Air Passenger Duty (APD) levels.

The self-claimed ‘ambitious’ campaign is aiming to gain the support of 100,000 people during the summer through its new website at www.afairtaxonflying.org. A template letter opposing the tax has been placed on the website for Britons to enter their postcode and email address to then send onto MPs.

“I urge everyone who believes the tax on flying is too high to do something about it,” said Simon Buck, chief executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), who encouraged the industry and customers to email, tweet or otherwise share the link.

A Fair Tax on Flying consists of associations, airlines and tour operators that oppose the tax and was devised when the Chancellor confirmed an 8% increase in APD in April. In the last six years the tax has more than doubled for all flights, bumping up the cost of air travel. The group has also continued to push for an independent review into APD’s impact on the UK economy.

“If the Government is serious about economic growth, then as a first step it should commission a study into the impacts of this tax on our economy,” said Luke Pollard, head of public affairs at ABTA. “Holiday-makers and business travellers can join the call for this study by lobbying their MP. Research done by other European countries swiftly resulted in their air tax being reduced or removed and we are confident that a report in the UK would show this tax is damaging to growth”. 

By Amanda Greenwood, 18 June 2012, Monday 7:25 AM