ABTA is making a last-ditch attempt to persuade the Government to rethink the level and structure of APD.
In the final week of the Government’s APD review, the industry association is hoping to stop the government increasing the tax by up to 10% next April.
Under the current structure, a family of four flying in economy from the UK to Florida pay £240 in flight tax, while if they fly to Australia they can expect to pay £340.
These rates double for customers flying in business class.
An ABTA delegation is visiting Northern Ireland this week, where the case for reform is particularly pressing.
ABTA said Northern Ireland is in danger of losing more international routes as customers and airlines vote with their feet and cross the border to the Republic which has announced it is eliminating aviation tax altogether to encourage overseas visitors.
The Republic currently charges only €3 per passenger. This compares with passengers flying from Belfast who pay up to £120 flight tax per passenger to fly direct to the US.
Governments in Denmark, Sweden, Malta and the Netherlands have all axed their versions of aviation tax after assessing the negative economic impacts on their economies.
The deadline for the Government’s review of a reform of APD is this Friday, June 17.
By Bev Fearis
