Abta told the Treasury that the UK charges “among” the highest air tax rates in the world and said it would be a mistake to penalize “hard-earned and much-loved holidays”.
This was picked up by Advantage Travel Partnership. “We hope the government will avoid increasing taxes such as air passenger duty, which will continue to put the UK at a disadvantage compared to other countries,” said chief executive Julia Lo Bue. Said, who also founded the UK Outbound Travel lobby group. .
Aito's Sumners said the APD “was initially introduced as an environmental tax, but has morphed into a general tax penalizing all travelers and especially families.”
“This will further burden SMEs who, unlike airlines, who can pass on the increased taxes, will have to absorb the cost in line with the requirements of the Package Travel Regulation. How can this be fair?”
Sumners said the Government should consider allocating £1 per passenger from APD to “ultimately remove the need for Atols and bonds”, adding: “Such a measure would hugely benefit everyone involved – from consumers to SMEs, across the travel industry.
Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, added: “Resisting increases in airport taxes, such as business rates and ODA, will allow ministers to clearly show that the UK is welcoming, global, focused outward and competitive. »
