Airline rivals easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways’ parent IAG and Virgin Atlantic will put aside their differences today to launch a major offensive against Air Passenger Duty.
Under the slogan ‘Axe the Tax’, the airlines’ chief executives are due to unveil their joint campaign at the London Stock Exchange this morning.
The campaign is being launched just before the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on November 29.
The industry fears George Osborne will announced a sharp rise in APD from next April, which could be double the rate of inflation.
The four airlines will use the campaign to highlight how the rise will impact the UK economy.
Hugo Burge, CEO at Cheapflights.co.uk, commended the airlines saying: “It is a measure of the industry’s concern to see often conflicting airlines coming together like this to communicate a message of the utmost urgency and significance.
“Air Passenger Duty has the potential to cripple vitally-needed growth in the UK aviation industry – it has already deterred UK travellers, who now have to pay up to £170 in addition to the cost of their flight. We should be doing all we can to support our air industry, which is good for business, consumers and our economy.”
by Bev Fearis
