Flight tax increase 'unjustified'

The British government has no justification to go through with its planned increase in air passenger duty (APD) this year, according to Abta - The Travel Association.

Abta spokesman Sean Tipton said the government's claims that the higher tax revenue is required to help offset the environmental effects of aviation do not hold water when the numbers are examined.

"The main argument that the government has for APD as a tax and also any possible increase is the environmental damage that flying does," Mr Tipton said.

"If you look at the amount of money the government raises from APD it is about £2 billion a year, which is considerably more than the cost of any environmental damage done by the industry."

Abta recently urged the UK government to follow The Netherlands' lead and scrap the tax on flights altogether.

The travel association warned that the increase in APD could heighten the problems already being encountered by the aviation and tourism industries as a result of the recession.

Posted by Merv, 07 April 2009 16:00

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