Campaign to halt air tax rises launched

11 July 2011

A campaign to halt planned rises in the Air Passenger Duty (APD) airport departure tax was launched today.

Organised by airline and airport groups, the campaign coincided with the release of a survey showing three in four people oppose APD hikes.

Campaigners wearing T-shirts with the message "Hands off our Holiday, Mr Taxman" were handing out leaflets at a number of UK airports.

APD rose last November and is set to rise again next year.

The campaign is backed by the Airport Operators Association (AOA), the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR-UK), and the British Air Transport Association (BATA).

AOA chief executive Darren Caplan said: "Our message to the Chancellor is that enough is enough. APD has already gone up by 325% on long-haul flights and 140% on short-haul flights in the last five years."

BAR-UK chief executive Mike Carrivick said: "The UK already has the highest rate of flight tax in the world. Why should families be discriminated against for wanting to fly off on a hard-earned break once a year?"

BATA chief executive Simon Buck said: "The Government already takes nearly £3 billion in tax from passengers. This is more than the tax on the banking industry. Most people simply aren't aware how much flight tax they pay.

"The Government should come clean about this stealth tax and drop the hikes planned for next year."