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Air tax raised 3.1 billion GBP last year
Air passenger duty raised £3.1 billion for HMRC last year, according to official figures released this week.
The figure was a 250% increase over 2005 when the tax raised just £331 million.
The British Air Transport Association said the tax raised 840% more last year than in its first full year of operation in 1995.
"Even allowing for growth in passenger numbers over the same period, this is still a huge burden on UK businesses, the travelling public and UK aviation," said BATA chief executive Nathan Stower.
In 1995, 51.8 million people paid APD, but in the first 11 months of last year the number had almost doubled to 100.5 million.
Speaking at the annual BATA dinner, Stower repeated calls for the tax to be abolished during this parliament.
"Despite some recent welcome reforms over the last year or two, such as the return to a two band structure and the abolition of APD for children, the UK flight tax is still the highest in Europe and one of the highest in the world," he said.
"There is a compelling economic and political case for abolition of APD during this Parliament to improve the UK’s international competitiveness, boost trade, increase productivity, encourage inbound tourism and support the travelling public."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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