British Holiday Companies Call for Airport Departure Tax to Be Halted

British Holiday Companies Call for Airport Departure Tax to Be Halted
By Julie Magee

Holiday companies that fly out of Bournemouth airport have backed a campaign launched yesterday calling on the Government to halt any further rises in airport departure tax. Protesters, led by travel organization ABTA, have written to Chancellor George Osborne ahead of his budget later this month and invited the public to back its stance in a Facebook campaign.

Campaigners say air passenger duty (APD) has risen 26-fold since 1994 and it was increased again last autumn, with those flying to the Caribbean facing particularly steep increases.

They claim that UK air travelers pay, by far, the highest levels of flight tax in Europe with a family of four flying from the UK to Florida paying £240 in APD. If they fly to Australia they can expect to have to fork out £340. That compares with £11 for an Irish family flying to the same destinations or £15 for a French family.

Christian Cull from Thomson Airways, which flies from Bournemouth to a range of short and mid-haul destinations, said: “As things stand, APD simply does not make sense. It is illogical, unbalanced and geographically illiterate.

“Thomson Airways wholly support ABTA’s call for a ‘Fair Tax on Flying’ and is committed to working with the Government and the airline industry to ensure a more just tax system for British families.

“An increase in APD in this economy would make it even harder for families flying from our regional airports, such as Bournemouth, to afford a holiday abroad. We believe this is everyone’s right.”

John Dixon, chairman and managing director of Ringwood-based Prestige Holidays, said: “Enough is enough. We all have to play a part in helping the recovery but we already pay the heaviest airline taxes in Europe.

“There must be some understanding of the value of tourism to the British economy. It is a very important source of growth, employment and revenue.”